Israel’s 21st parliament (Knesset) held its opening session on Tuesday afternoon with the 120 lawmakers elected in the country’s April 9 national elections taking the oath of office.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in following his victory in the April 9 elections and will seek to form a governing coalition in the days ahead.
“Today we are overcome by the spirit of unity of the people we represent, the people who have decided in democratic elections and have imposed on us all the important mission to act on its behalf and for its sake,” Netanyahu said.
President Reuven Rivlin delivered a speech opening the new Knesset’s first plenary session, calling upon members to set aside political differences raised in the contentious election season that saw a lot of name-calling and criminal accusations of corruption as well as sexual harassment.
“We have worked overtime in the service of delegitimization, hatred and execration. Now, it’s over. Enough. Time to rise up, to put down the cudgels of elections and clean up the mess,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
