Record influx of first-time lawmakers marks start of new Israeli parliament
Forty-six of the 120 members of the 26th Knesset are taking office for the first time, including a 24-year-old who will become the youngest legislator in history.
By Harvey Wilson ·
The 26th Knesset will begin its term on Tuesday, marking a sharp turnover in the Israeli legislature. The chamber is set to welcome 46 first-time members, a group that represents nearly a fourth of the total 120 seats.
The new assembly includes 33 women, an increase from the 29 women who served in the 25th Knesset, which began in 2022. The age gap between the newest and oldest members is also the widest on record. Haim Katz of Likud is approaching 79, while Yonatan Shalev of the B’Yachad party is 24. Shalev, born in the United States, will break a record held since 1959 by Moshe Nissim to become the youngest member ever to serve.
Benjamin Netanyahu continues to hold the distinction of being the longest-serving member. He has served in the Knesset for 35 years since his initial election in 1988. The incoming group is diverse in background, with many members having personal ties to recent conflicts. B’Yachad’s Noam Tibon is a retired major general who attempted to rescue his son from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023.
Likud’s Elisha Madan lost both legs in a blast while serving as a reservist in Gaza in 2024. Yisrael Beytenu’s Sharon Sharabi lost her brother Yossi to captivity and was separated from her other brother, Eli, who was held for nearly 500 days. Yashar’s Shira Shapiro is the mother of Staff Sgt. Aner Shapiro, who died after defending a shelter from grenades.
Several members bring high public profiles to the chamber. Jacob Bardugo of Likud is a radio host and commentator who has faced internal party accusations of blackmail. Chanamel Dorfman of Otzma Yehudit is a longtime aide to Itamar Ben Gvir. Dorfman has been associated with settler hilltop youth and has been subject to Shin Bet probes and IDF administrative orders restricting his movement.
The 46 new members gathered in Jerusalem on Monday for an orientation session. They are scheduled to be formally sworn in at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The composition of the body reflects a shift toward younger and more personally invested legislators, with 15 of the new entrants coming from Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, which secured 21 seats.
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