After being sworn in on Tuesday, the 21st Knesset re-elected MK Yuli-Yoel Edelstein (Likud) to a third consecutive term as Speaker of the Knesset. 101 MKs voted in favor of re-electing MK Edelstein, while four lawmakers abstained. Prior to his re-election, Speaker Edelstein addressed the plenum and said “The truth is, I was not even supposed to be here today. The compass I received at birth did not have even the smallest arrow pointing towards the Land of Israel. I grew up behind the communist Iron Curtain, in a place where Zionism was a forbidden word, and Judaism was suffocating beneath a heavy boot of oppression. And yet, despite all this, I am here."
“The power of our nation's ancient call of freedom – 'let my people go' – was by my side and carried me to the gates of Jerusalem, before which I have been standing since then and to this day," said Speaker Edelstein. “My story is merely a small part, a historic fraction, of the greater story of the People of Israel; a nation which, despite all it has been through, and the opposition of all its enemies, is here once again, in the land of its fathers, and here it shall remain forever."
In his speech, Speaker Edelstein mentioned the achievements of the 20th Knesset. “We increased transparency, advanced accessibility, hosted hundreds of delegations from all over the world, legislated numerous laws aimed at promoting justice, liberty, prosperity and equality in all aspects of life," he noted.
“This is the starting point of the 21st Knesset. It is our duty to continue [in this manner]. It is our duty to strengthen the power of the Knesset as a supervising branch. It is our duty to make the legislative work more efficient and improve its quality. It is our duty to protect this podium from disparaging and violent discourse, while bolstering the Ethics Committee and preserving the dignity of the Knesset. It is our duty to always keep in mind those who sent us here, and to whom we will report: the citizens of Israel."
“They are, justifiably, watching us. They are, justifiably, demanding from us. They are demanding that the 'losers' and 'winners' discourse be replaced with a different type of discourse. A discourse of partners. Because this is the only way we can succeed."
The Knesset, Speaker Edelstein remarked, “should be a place which is observed by boys and girls from all across the country, who should be saying: 'That is where I want to be. This is who I would like to be.'"
Speaker Edelstein told his fellow lawmakers that in order to fulfill these duties successfully, “we must keep in mind that every bill we submit, every question we pose (to a minister), every debate in a committee and every speech in the plenum is being observed by all the generations which came before us. [We must keep in mind] that all the citizens of Israel are watching us."
