418
The 120 members of the 19th Knesset are to be sworn in on Tuesday, in a celebratory opening meeting, while social activists hope to remind them to faithfully represent the public.
Hundreds of activists from Green Course, the National Union of Israeli Students and other organizations plan to stand outside the Knesset as the MKs arrive and distribute flowers meant to represent cooperation between citizens and their representatives.
The activists will also ask the MKs to pose for photographs with a sign reading “You are swearing to work for us.”
Over 1,000 people are expected to attend the 19th Knesset’s opening ceremony, over which Labor’s Binyamin Ben-Eliezer will preside, as he is the veteran MK, after 29 years as a lawmaker. He is also the oldest MK, at age 77, while Stav Shaffir, 27, also from Labor, will be the youngest after swearing in on Tuesday.
The ceremony will begin with President Shimon Peres laying flowers on the memorial for the fallen in wars, followed by a meeting between him, Ben-Eliezer and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
Then, the members of the 19th Knesset will declare that they “commit to be faithful to the State of Israel and faithfully fulfill my mission in the Knesset.”
Peres will speak, and parts of first prime minister David Ben- Gurion’s declaration of the State of Israel’s establishment will be played.
Media personality Jacky Levy is expected to read from psalms, and singer Kobi Aflalo will perform a song.
The ceremony will be followed by a toast to the new MKs.