Israeli democracy is eroding, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday during a ceremonial Knesset plenum session marking the establishment of its building.
The Knesset had earlier conducted a full day of events marking 60 years since the structure was inaugurated on Tu Bishvat.
“We must find a way to restore the balance among the three branches of government,” Netanyahu said. “The greatest danger to democracy is the abolition of democracy.”
The ceremonial session exposed divisions within the opposition and coalition after Supreme Court President Isaac Amit was not invited to attend amid the ongoing rift between the government and the judiciary.
The government has refused to formally recognize Amit as the Supreme Court’s president.
President Isaac Herzog did not attend the session due to a purported scheduling issue. There was speculation that his absence was related to Amit’s not being invited.
Opposition parties boycott
The opposition parties boycotted the special session, and its MKs’ seats were empty throughout Netanyahu’s speech.
“We always knew that we operated within a democratic framework,” Netanyahu said. “I think this has been eroded, and a large part of the public regrets it and cries out about it.”
“In this house, we have disagreements on fundamental issues – on policy, ideology, and vision,” he said. “These disagreements are not a flaw in democracy; they are an advantage of democracy. That is the essence of democracy.”
After Netanyahu spoke, opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) gave his response to the plenum.
“What did you do? You divided this country,” he said. “Why did you do this? How are you not ashamed of yourselves? Will you not stop until you tear us apart completely?”
“You knew we wouldn’t come,” he added. “You knew that if you boycotted the president of the Supreme Court, we wouldn’t be able to come.”
“Is this what you wanted: that we wouldn’t come even on the Knesset’s day of celebration?” Lapid asked, directing the question at the coalition MKs in the plenum.
In remarks at the beginning of the special plenum ceremony, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana spoke about the divide between the government and the judiciary.
“I regret that once again there are those who view the non-invitation to a ceremonial event as a substantive blow to Israel’s democratic system,” he said.
“Those who show respect will be respected,” Ohana said. “But respect between branches is not one-sided.”
Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz criticized the absence of both Herzog and Amit during his remarks at a faction press conference before the Knesset session.
“Instead of a celebration of the Knesset and democracy, it’s a celebration for divisive and extremist forces,” he said.
60 years of the Knesset building
“We are marking 60 years of the Knesset building, and instead of turning this into a Zionist, unifying moment, the [Knesset] speaker insists on turning the Knesset from the house of the people into the house of half the people,” Gantz said.
Hundreds of guests were invited to partake in the celebratory event.
An honor guard ceremony was held in the Knesset plaza, where the Israeli flag was raised.
Special tree-planting ceremonies took place in keeping with Tu Bishvat tradition.
Earlier in the day, there was a prayer service in the Knesset synagogue.
A large figure of Theodor Herzl, constructed entirely from Israeli fruits and vegetables, was displayed in the building.
Activity booths were set up throughout the Knesset, featuring interactive stations that told the story of Israeli agriculture. One of the booths was an agricultural exhibition featuring a display of Israel’s dairy industry.
The Knesset moved to the building in the government complex located in Jerusalem’s Givat Ram area in 1966.
From 1950-1966, the Knesset was based in a different building, Froumine House, on King George Avenue in downtown Jerusalem. That building has been restored and converted into the Knesset Museum.