Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Knesset, Israel's parliament building in Jerusalem. (Getty Images / Image Bank.)
tution, but the religious and secular parties failed to agree on how to defi ne the state-religion
relationship.
The members of the Knesset, or MKs, are elected for a period of four years. But each Knes-
set may dissolve itself during its term by passing a no-confi dence motion, although this rarely
happens, or the prime minister may dissolve it. Once it is dissolved, an election is held to form
a new Knesset, after which the prime minister is once again selected. More than 40 percent
of governments in Israel's history have gone to elections before reaching the four-year mark.
Elections are nationwide; MKs represent the whole country, not just a region or district. On
election day, voters cast a ballot for a political party's list of candidates, drawn up in the party's
order of priority. To win a seat in the Knesset, a party must gain at least 2 percent of the popular
vote. Every party gaining more than that percent minimum receives seats in proportion to the
number of votes obtained. Candidates become elected MKs depending on their order on the
ballot. The fi rst person on the list is the party's candidate for prime minister. In recent years,
the larger parties have held primaries to choose some candidates, with the rest being picked by
party committees.
Basic Laws (
Hokei Yesod
)
The Knesset has passed a number of Basic Laws. These have precedence over other laws — and
will, in theory, some day add up to a comprehensive constitution. Despite the many attempts
