Knesset
The Knesset is Israel's unicameral parliament and supreme legislative authority. Comprising 120 members, it is responsible for enacting laws, approving the state budget, and overseeing the executive branch.
The Knesset, located in Jerusalem, serves as the heart of Israeli democracy. Its 120 members (MKs) are elected through a proportional representation system, where parties must clear a 3.25% threshold to enter. As of July 2026, the Knesset is operating under a dual reality of severe security threats and intense domestic legislative friction. Following direct military confrontation with the Iranian regime, the parliament activated emergency protocols, moving plenum sessions to a protected underground auditorium and restricting public access to the building. Despite these measures, the legislative agenda has accelerated into what observers call a "legislative blitz." This push, led by the governing coalition, aims to finalize key components of a judicial overhaul and religious status-quo changes before a potential dissolution of the house. Central to this effort is the "Basic Law: Torah Study," which officially passed its second and third readings in mid-July 2026. This legislation, a core demand of Haredi coalition partners, enshrines the status of Torah study within Israel's framework of Basic Laws. Its passage has triggered immediate legal challenges, with the Movement for Quality Government petitioning the High Court of Justice, arguing the law is a maneuver to bypass equal burden-sharing and military draft requirements. Simultaneously, the Knesset is managing a critical personnel crisis within the IDF. While the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee recently approved a temporary order maintaining mandatory service at 32 months, military leadership has warned of a structural manpower gap by 2027 without further extensions. The political atmosphere remains volatile; following the passage of the Torah Study law, Haredi factions issued an ultimatum to boycott all other coalition legislation unless a bill freezing the arrest of draft-evading yeshiva students is advanced immediately. This internal standoff, coupled with the ongoing security emergency, defines the current parliamentary session.