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Israel's Early Diplomatic Struggles
President Chaim Weizmann Opens the First Knesset

Armistice Agreements with Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan

Armistice Agreement with Syria

Prime Minister Ben-Gurion on Jerusalem and the Holy Places

Transferring the Knesset and Cabinet to Jerusalem

Annexation of the West Bank by Jordan

Foreign Minister Sharett on the Situation with Syria--1951

Glossary of Israel's Founding Parties and Personalities

About Major Knesset Debates

Major Knesset Debates -- Contents

 

Major Knesset Debates, 1948-1981

Edited by Netanel Lorch

Contents


Foreword - Daniel J. Elazar

General Introduction: The Knesset -- Israel's Parliament


PEOPLE'S COUNCIL
4-14 May 1948

Introduction

Report by Chairman of the People's Directorate on the Political and Military Situation -- Sitting 1, 4 May 1948

Statement by the Chairman of the People's Council -- Sitting 2, 5 May 1948

Draft of Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel -- Sitting 3, 14 May 1948

Declaration of Establishment of State of Israel -- Sitting 4, 14 May 1948


PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE
14 May 1948-10 February 1949

Introduction

Proclamation of State -- Statements; Law and Administration Ordinance, 1948 -- Sitting 1, 16 May 1948

Prime Minister's Report; Declaration of State of Emergency; Merchant Navy Flag; Stamp Ordinance; Questions and Answers -- Sitting 2, 19 May 1948

Prime Minister's Report -- Debate -- Sitting 3, 3 June 1948

Prime Minister's Statement; Report of Foreign Minister -- Sitting 4, 17 June 1948

Altalena Incident -- Sitting 5, 23 June 1948

Altalena Incident -- Conclusion and Vote; Situation in Jerusalem -- Sitting 6, 24 June 1948

Government's Reply to U.N. Mediator's Proposals -- Sitting 8, 5 July 1948

Flag and Emblem of State -- Sitting 10, 15 July 1948

Foreign Minister's Report -- Sitting 12, 29 July 1948

Prime Minister's Statement Following Assassination of U.N. Mediator -- Sitting 19, 23 September 1948

U.N. Mediator's Report -- Sitting 20, 27 September 1948

Prime Minister's Report on Renewed Fighting in the Negev; State Emblem and Flag -- Sitting 24, 28 October 1948

Political Debate Prior to Armistice Negotiations at Rhodes -- Sitting 35, 11 November 1948

Conclusions of Foreign Affairs Committee -- Sitting 36, 13 January 1949

General Amnesty Order, 1949 -- Sitting 40, 10 February 1949


FIRST KNESSET 1949-1951

Opening Sitting -- Sitting 1, 14 February 1949

Transition Act -- Sitting 4, 16 February 1949

Inauguration of President of State of Israel -- Sitting 6, 17 February 1949

Formation of Cabinet -- Sitting 7, 8 March 1949

Debate on Formation of Cabinet and its Program -- Sitting 8, 8 March 1949

American Credit Loan -- Sitting 7, 8 March 1949; Sitting 13, 17 March 1949

State Comptroller Law -- Sitting 14, 21 March 1949

Armistice Agreements with Arab Countries -- Sitting 20, 4 April 1949

Armistice Agreement with Syria -- Sitting 58, 20 July 1949; Sitting 62, 1 August 1949

Special Sitting to Mark Reinterment of Theodor Herzl's Remains -- Sitting 69, 16 August 1949

Prime Minister's Statement Concerning Jerusalem and Holy Places -- Sitting 96, 5 December 1949

Transferring Knesset and Cabinet to Jerusalem -- Sitting 96, 13 December 1949

Annexation of West Bank by Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan -- Sitting 135, 3 May 1950

Institution for Coordinating Between Government and Zionist Organization -- Sitting 139, 15 May 1950

Law of Return; Nationality Law -- Sitting 160, 3 July 1950; Sitting 162, 5 July 1950

Korean Question -- Sitting 161, 4 July 1950

Judges Law -- Sitting 231, 26 February 1951

Foreign Minister's Statement on Conflict with Syria -- Sitting 251, 14 May 1951

Security Council Resolution Regarding Hula Region --
Sitting 258, 29 May 1951

Conclusion of First Knesset -- Sitting 272, 20 August 1951


SECOND KNESSET 1952-1955

Reparations from Germany -- Sitting 38, 7 January 1952

Official Language Bill -- Sitting 102, 2 July 1952

Motion of No-Confidence by Mapam -- Sitting 128, 27 August 1952

Prague Trial -- Sitting 141, 24 November 1952

Severing of Diplomatic Relations with Israel by Soviet Union -- Sitting 189, 16 February 1953

Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Act -- Yad Vashem -- Sitting 227, 12 May 1953

Trial and Execution of Dr. Moshe Marzouk and Samuel Azaar in Cairo -- Sitting 541, 31 January 1955

Change in Composition of Government -- Sitting 554, 21 February 1955


THIRD KNESSET 1955-1959

Presentation of Government -- Sittings 19-21; 2-3 November 1955

Foreign Policy and Defense -- Sittings 50-55; 2-4, 9 January 1956

Herut's Proposal of No-Confidence -- Sitting 92, 6 March 1956

Bill to Ban Pig-Rearing in Israel -- Sitting 122, 23 May 1956

Changes in Composition of Government (Foreign Minister's Resignation) -- Sitting 138, 18 June 1956; Sitting 140, 19 June 1956

Diplomatic Relations with West Germany -- Sitting 146, 2 July 1956

Foreign Policy and Defense (Pre-Sinai Campaign) -- Sittings 169-173; 15-17 October 1956

Political and Military Situation -- Sittings 182-183; 7 November 1956

Implementation of U.N. Assembly Resolution -- Sitting 187, 14 November 1956

Persecution of Jews in Egypt -- Sitting 196, 25 November 1956

Incident in the Villages of the Triangle -- Sitting 203, 12 December 1956

Herut's Motion of No-Confidence -- Sitting 223, 15 January 1957

Foreign Policy and Defense -- Sitting 228, 23 January 1957

Foreign Policy and Defense -- Sittings 249-250, 252; 21-22, 25 February 1957

Political Situation -- Sittings 256-258; 5-6 March 1957

James de Rothschild's Bequest -- Sitting 331, 22 July 1957

In Memory of Colonel Nehemia Argov -- Sitting 358, 18 November 1957

Speaker's Address on Knesset's Tenth Anniversary -- Sitting 581, 26 January 1958


FOURTH KNESSET 1960-1961

Arms Sales to Germany -- Sitting 35, 20 January 1960

Questions and Answers about Nazi War Criminal Eichmann -- Sitting 60, 29 February 1960

Religious Front's Motion of No-Confidence -- Sitting 97, 18 May 1960

Prime Minister's Statement on Arrest of Eichmann -- Sitting 98, 23 May 1960

Minister of Justice's Statement to Press Regarding Eichmann Trial -- Sitting 109, 8 June 1960

Prime Minister's Review of Lavon Affair -- Sittings 156-160; 24-26 October 1960

Lavon Affair -- Sitting 180, 23 November 1960; Sitting 205, 3 January 1961; Sitting 212, 16 January 1961

Sinking of Immigrant Ship Off Coast of Morocco -- Sitting 214, 18 January 1961

Courts (Offenses Punishable by Death) Law, 5721-1961 -- Sitting 214, 18 January 1961

Lavon Affair (Dayan's Speech) -- Sitting 217, 24 January 1961

Motion of No-Confidence by Herut and General Zionists -- Sitting 220, 30 January 1961

Resignation of Government -- Sitting 223, 1 February 1961

Prime Minister's Application to Supreme Court Judge Regarding Meaning of "Bias" -- Sitting 239, 27 February 1961

Security Procedures in Ministry of Defense -- Sitting 274, 17 May 1961

Israel-Diaspora Relations -- Sitting 274, 17 May 1961


FIFTH KNESSET 1961-1965

Israel's Vote at U.N. Regarding Sanctions Against South Africa -- Sitting 34, 27 November 1961

Press Reports of Israeli Weapons in Possession of Portuguese Army -- Sitting 38, 29 November 1961

Israel and the Common Market -- Sitting 48, 13 December 1961

Vote by Israel's Delegation to U.N. on Refugee Problem -- Sitting 68, 10 January 1962

Reparations for Austrian Jews who were Victims of Nazi Persecution -- Sitting 83, 31 January 1962

Disappearance of Yossele Schumacher -- Sitting 121, 3 April 1962

U.N. Security Council Resolution (Reprisal Against Syria) -- Sitting 126, 10 April 1962

Motion of No-Confidence (Soblen Affair) -- Sitting 155, 11 July 1962

Amendment of Transition Law on International Conventions -- Sitting 204, 9 January 1963

Activities of German Scientists in Egypt -- Sitting 234, 20 March 1963

Prime Minister's Position and Resignation of Head of Security Services -- Special Sitting, 7 April 1963

Making the Mediterranean a Nuclear-Free Zone -- Sitting 238, 12 June 1963

Human Rights Charter -- Sitting 320, 15 January 1964

Prime Minister's Resignation -- Sitting 421, 15 December 1964

Prime Minister's Statement on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations with West Germany -- Sitting 460, 16 March 1965


SIXTH KNESSET 1965-1969

Opening Sitting (Ben-Gurion's Address) -- Sitting 1, 22 November 1965

Claim Regarding Atomic Work at Dimona Reactor -- Sitting 7, 7 December 1965

Reports of Visits to Dimona Reactor by U.S. Government Representatives -- Sitting 79, 5 July 1966; Sitting 81, 11 July 1966

Budget Law, 5726-1966 -- Sitting 51, 23 March 1966

New Knesset Building; Basic Law: the Government -- Special Sitting, 31 August 1966

Prime Minister's Statement on Defense and Political Situation -- Sitting 97, 17 October 1966

Proposal to Make President Head of Armed Forces -- Sitting 105, 2 November 1966

Abolition of the Military Government -- Sitting 107, 8 November 1966

Security Situation -- Sitting 137, 17 January 1967

Budget Law, 5727-1967 -- Sitting 149, 14 February 1967

Situation on Syrian Border -- Sitting 174, 12 April 1967

Political and Security Situation -- Sittings 176-177, 22-23 May 1967

Security Situation -- Sitting 179, 29 May 1967

Prime Minister's Statement on Military Situation -- Sitting 182, 5 June 1967

Commemoration of IDF Casualties and Congratulations on Victory in Battle -- Sitting 183, 12 June 1967

Attacks on Jews in Arab Countries -- Sitting 186, 21 June 1967

Preparation of a Peace Plan -- Sitting 186, 21 June 1967

Treatment of Arab Population in Administered Areas and Fate of Men in Sinai Desert -- Sitting 186, 21 June 1967

Statements by Prominent Persons Regarding Return of Liberated Territory to the Enemy -- Sitting 186, 21 June 1967

Reunification of Jerusalem -- Sitting 188, 27 June 1967

Arrangements for Appropriate Behavior at Holy Places -- Sitting 191, 4 July 1967

Questions and Answers -- Sitting 258, 26 February 1968

Municipal Services in East Jerusalem -- Sitting 261, 4 March 1968

Proposal for Senior Council of State -- Sitting 304, 3 July 1968

Beginning the War of Attrition -- Sitting 329, 29 October 1968

Political Affiliations of IDF Officers -- Sitting 372, 5 February 1969

Death of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol -- Memorial Sitting, 6 March 1969

Composition and Program of New Government -- Sitting 388, 17 March 1969

Public Financing of Election Campaigns -- Sitting 351, 18 December 1968; Sitting 369, 29 January 1969; Sitting 426, 14 July 1969

Statement by Minister of Defense Regarding Israel's Refusal to Withdraw from Sharm el-Sheikh Even for Peace with Egypt -- Sitting 427, 15 July 1969

Speaker's Address at Conclusion of Sixth Knesset -- Sitting 429, 17 July 1969


SEVENTH KNESSET 1970-1973

Motion of No-Confidence by Ha'Olam Hazeh-Ko'ah Hadash -- Sitting 35, 3 February 1970

Who is a Jew? -- Sittings 37-38; 9-10 February 1970

Break-up of National Unity Government -- Sitting 101, 12 August 1970

Advance of Egyptian Missiles Towards Suez Canal -- Sitting 102, 13 August 1970

Expanding and Intensifying Jewish Education in the Diaspora -- Sitting 104, 1 February 1971

Debate on Proposed Basic Law: Human and Civil Rights -- Sitting 458, 17 September 1973

Kidnapping of Soviet Jewish Immigrants in Austria -- Sitting 460, 1 October 1973

Yom Kippur War -- Sitting 461, 16 October 1973

Response to U.S. Appeal for Ceasefire -- Sitting 462, 23 October 1973

Elections to Eighth Knesset and Local Authorities (Temporary Provision) Law, 5734-1973 -- Sitting 463, 24 October 1973

Demand for Immediate Release of Israeli Prisoners of War in Egypt and Syria -- Sitting 465, 30 October 1973

In Honor of the Late David Ben-Gurion -- Sitting 475, 10 December 1973

Government's Decision to Participate in Geneva Conference -- Sitting 479, 20 December 1973


EIGHTH KNESSET 1974-1977

Basic Law: the Knesset (Amendment); Knesset Elections Law **Rev* (Consolidated Version) (Amendment), 5734-1974 -- Sitting 36, 3 April 1974

Prime Minister's Resignation; Interim Report of Commission of Inquiry into Yom Kippur War -- Sitting 37, 11 April 1974

Terrorist Attack in Ma'alot -- Sitting 47, 20 May 1974

Implementing Death Penalty for Terrorists -- Sitting 49, 22 May 1974

Disengagement of Forces Agreement with Syria -- Sitting 52, 30 May 1974

Torture of Israeli Prisoners of War in Syria -- Sitting 58, 12 June 1974

Visit to Israel of U.S. President Nixon -- Sitting 61, 19 June 1974

Basic Law: the Army; Military Justice (Amendment No. 9) Law, 5735-1975 -- Sitting 207, 30 July 1975

Interim Agreement between Israel and Egypt -- Sitting 210, 3 September 1975

U.N. "Zionism is Racism" Resolution -- Sitting 224, 11 November 1975

Israel's Responsibility for and Policy towards Diaspora Jewry -- Sitting 231, 26 November 1975

PLO Participation at U.N. Security Council -- Sitting 252, 14 January 1976

Supply of French Atomic Reactors to Iraq -- Sitting 257, 27 January 1976

Deteriorating Situation in Lebanon -- Sitting 258, 28 January 1976

Egypt's Threats of War in Violation of Interim Agreement -- Sitting 273, 3 March 1976

Dismissing Cabinet Ministers -- Sitting 306, 16 June 1976

Allon Plan -- Sitting 333, 21 September 1976

Basic Law: the Knesset (Amendment No. 6), 5736-1976 -- Sitting 344, 15 November 1976

Motion of No-Confidence by Orthodox Religious Front -- Sitting 357, 14 December 1976

Requiring a Quorum in the Knesset -- Sitting 363, 28 December 1976

Budget Law, 5737-1977 -- Sitting 374, 24 January 1977

Conclusion of Eighth Knesset -- Sitting 397, 16 March 1977


NINTH KNESSET 1977-1981

Presentation of New Government -- Sitting 3, 20 June 1977

Problems of Drafting Women into Army -- Sitting 6, 29 June 1977

Prime Minister's Statement on Visit to U.S. -- Sitting 18, 27 July 1977

Political Situation in Light of Joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. Statement -- Sitting 27, 13 October 1977

Knesset Visit of Egyptian President Sadat -- Sitting 43, 20 November 1977

Israel's Peace Plan -- Sitting 61, 28 December 1977

Political Situation and Reply to Sadat's Speech -- Sitting 71, 23 January 1978

Camp David Accords -- Sitting 145, 25 September 1978

German Statute of Limitations for Nazi War Crimes -- Sitting 156, 20 November 1978

Electoral Reform Proposal -- Sitting 178, 10 January 1979

U.S. President Carter Addresses Knesset -- Sitting 203, 12 March 1979

Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt -- Sitting 206, 20 March 1979

Proposed Change in Parliamentary Immunity Law -- Sitting 231, 6 June 1979

Proposal to Allow Prime Minister to Dismiss Ministers -- Sitting 231, 6 June 1979

Basic Law: Jerusalem the Capital of Israel -- Sitting 360, 23 July 1980

Proposal for Unilateral Autonomy in the Territories -- Sitting 399, 24 December 1980

Proposed Basic Law: Declaration of Independence -- Sitting 402, 31 December 1980

Political and Military Situation -- Sitting 442, 11 May 1981