22nd Knesset to be Sworn in Thursday

israelnationalnews

Israel’s 22nd Knesset will begin on Thursday, when its 120 members are sworn-in in a ceremony beginning at 3:00p.m.

The Knesset, which follows the shortest Knesset in Israel’s history, includes eight new MKs.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will open the ceremony, calling on Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) to read the statement of MKs’ obligations. After it is read, each of the MKs will affirm his or her new position by saying: “I commit myself.”

Though the Knesset will officially begin Thursday, coalition negotiations are still deadlocked, with the two largest parties – Likud and Blue and White – refusing to give in on their basic demands, and the right-religious and center-left blocs both lacking the majority needed to form a government.

On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will meet with the Likud and leaders of the nationalist camp, and decide whether to request that Rivlin tap someone else to form a government.