First-time Knesset members Miki Haimovich (Blue and White), Zvi Hauser (Blue and White) and Michael Biton (Blue and White) delivered their inaugural speeches in the Knesset plenum on Wednesday and presented the issues they plan to promote in parliament.

MK Hauser said he plans to deal with what he referred to as the five main challenges that will shape Israel's future. “The first one: the changing borders of the Middle East. The internalization of the fact that the reality in the Middle East crossed the point of no return with the United States' recognition of Israel's sovereignty in the Golan Heights," he said. “The second challenge is the transfer of the battlefield from enemy territory to population centers in Israel. We must understand that the rocket fire is a test case for Israel's deterrence in the Middle East. Israel must act with resolve to [have the rockets removed from the Gaza Strip] as a precondition for its rehabilitation. The loss of deterrence in the south will directly affect the erosion of deterrence on the northern front vis-à-vis Iran and Hezbollah."

“The third challenge is recognizing that the [concept of] transferring a population as part of a peace agreement has disappeared from the world. People can no longer be uprooted from their homes, from the historic landscape of their homeland - like an object can be moved – whether it's done as part of an agreement or whether it's done unilaterally," MK Hauser told the plenum. “The fourth challenge is the connection between the nation state of the Jewish People and Diaspora Jewry. The State of Israel must maintain a brotherly covenant – an everlasting covenant – with Diaspora Jewry, and make certain that at any given time Israel will remain open and prepared to absorb any Jew who wishes [to immigrate]."

The most significant challenge, said MK Hauser, has to do with the “deep understanding that social unity is the core component of Israeli resilience in the face of future challenges. No external enemy is as dangerous as the division of Israeli society into camps."

MK Biton mentioned his work as mayor of Yeruham, noting “I received a city that was going bankrupt, with a deficit, loans, a bad image and negative migration. There was no work. We built a strategy and [invested in] education." The result, he said, was that the percentage of high-school students receiving matriculation certificates jumped from 60 percent to 90 percent of those eligible. “I speak of philanthropy, but there is shame in it. Why should education be dependent on philanthropists? We did a lot in Yeruham, and what we learned in Yeruham is that Israeli society can be fixed, and that's why we're here. We can build a strategy that will narrow the gaps and offer an equal opportunity for everyone. This is what I have come to do here. My resume will have me focus on free education and equal opportunity."

MK Biton said Israel should draw its inspiration from two main things: “the Declaration of Independence, which states that the country will be based on the principles of freedom, justice and peace, but this is not being realized, and at times there are setbacks. The other focal point is 'deal thy bread to the hungry,' and so on. We had the privilege of dealing bread and bringing the needy into our home through public housing. The significance of this is that food packages [are a thing of the past]. 'Bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house' – this is the public housing which is lacking. This verse is my work plan; it is the work plan of all of us."

MK Haimovich focused in her maiden speech on sustainability, environment protection and the struggle to save the planet. “I feel as though I am here as a representative of the next generations, who are watching us today and wondering whether we are fulfilling our duty of caring for their future, as past generations have, or if perhaps we are betraying them, their dreams and their hopes of raising their children in a world similar to that in which we grew up."

“It is the link between the environment, animals, our health and the wholeness of the planet that has driven me over the past few years," she said. “I studied, researched and came to understand that our world, as we know it, is on the brink of an enormous crisis, unprecedented in the history of humankind, which, unfortunately, we humans are responsible for. This crisis requires us to take urgent action. Public pressure is important and good, but it is not enough. The planet is in the hands of the decision makers – the politicians, let's be responsible and bold. The solution entails a joint effort of civilian, government and corporate bodies for economic change, such that will place the issue at the top of the priorities list, promote renewable energy and waste treatment, and change consumer patterns. Meanwhile, instead of advancing technologies that will support these measures, we are falling behind in the application of basic changes at the behavioral and legislative level, and there is no reason we should not unite – all the members of this House – in the face of this threat, and act differently."

“I call on you, members of Knesset, to recognize the importance of this issue, to recognize our responsibility for the reason for this crisis – don't choose denial. The time has come to declare, here as well, a state of climate crisis. I enter this House so that the State of Israel will become part of the race to save planet Earth as we know it. I enter this House as a messenger in the global effort to make us all, humans, part of this effort."