New Israeli Knesset Prepares for Political Battle
Plenty of hugs and kisses were exchanged on the first day of the newly sworn-in Knesset, yet the gaiety will be short lived as the battles will soon commence, writes Mazal Mualem.
Many young faces — that's what gets your attention when you look at the 120 Knesset Members who, jubilant and excited, took their seats at the plenary hall on the first day of the 19th Knesset. Accompanied by their children, parents, spouses and grandparents, the newly-elect Knesset Members arrived at the parliament, where they hugged, kissed, shook hands and swore allegiance to the Knesset.
Here they are, Stav Shaffir and Itzik Shmuli, the heroes of last year's social protest. She is 27 years old, the youngest Knesset member, in a lovely dress. He is 32, wearing a suit and tie. A year and a half after becoming icons of the social protest, they are being sworn in as Knesset Members on the Labor Party ticket. At the moment it seems that they will serve from the opposition, as will Hilik Bar and Michal Biran from their faction, also both new Knesset members in their thirties.
The centrist Yesh Atid Party and the right-wing Habayit Hayehudi Party also sported a young look in the form of many new Knesset members — most of whom had to repeatedly identify themselves to Knesset ushers, who, will have to memorize the faces of no fewer than 48 new parliament members.
The rejuvenation of the Knesset is undoubtedly one of the outcomes of the social protest that killed the splintered, functionary-based Kadima Party, helping to build Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party, which promised — and delivered — a politician-free party. Lapid handpicked a mixed bag of Ethiopians, mayors, academics, social activists, a former Shin Bet director, two rabbis and close personal friends such as journalist Ofer Shelah and judoka Yoel Razvozov.
