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(June 8) - The 15th Knesset was inaugurated yesterday amid calls for unity, peace, and reconciliation, but the rifts among the sectors of society represented in the House quickly surfaced. "In your term of office, our Israeli identity must be formulated without losing our Jewish identity," Weizman told the session, whose visitors included outgoing and former MKs, Supreme Court justices, diplomats, and dignitaries. He noted that the state must form its identity along Zionist-Jewish lines, while also giving equal status to non-Jewish citizens. "The rifts in society have grown and have grown to worrisome proportions, especially in the lead-up to the elections," Weizman said. "You, the members of Knesset, must set an example for all of us and show the people that despite your differences, you can all work together in a civilized manner, while respecting each other and the rule of law." However, Weizman's call was quickly ignored. When the Balad MKs, Azmi Bishara and Ahmed Tibi, were sworn in, right-wing MKs Michael Kleiner (National Union) and Haim Druckman (National Religious Party) called out remarks questioning their allegiance to the state. Bishara has called for Israel to become a secular state and Tibi is a former adviser to Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. Shimon Peres (One Israel), the oldest MK, took over as temporary Speaker, until a permanent candidate is selected by the coalition. Peres said the Knesset is faced with great decisions for the state's future, and expressed hope for completing the process toward "real prosperity and permanent peace." Achieving this will be the test of the Knesset's future, Peres said, adding that "only true peace will award true hope for the next generation." He also called for more reforms to the country's system of government. Only 118 of the 120 MKs were sworn into office, since One Israel MK Avraham Shohat was hospitalized with heart trouble and Likud MK Ayoub Kara's pledge was ruled invalid. When it was Kara's turn to confirm the oath, he said: "I pledge... and hope to bring about the release of Azzam Azzam." Kara and Azzam, who is being held by Egypt on espionage charges, are both Druse. Knesset legal adviser Zvi Inbar ruled that Kara would have to be sworn in again next week. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who intends to resign only when the next government is formed, also took his oath. He sat at the head of his cabinet, which made one of its highest turnouts since the Wye accords were signed. Only Internal Security Minister Avigdor Kahalani (Third Way) and Agriculture Minister Rafael Eitan (Tsomet), both of whose parties failed to enter the Knesset, chose not to take part. Sara Netanyahu also did not attend the ceremony. Instead, Nava Barak was joined in the VIP section by Leah Rabin. The differences among the Knesset factions were also apparent when United Torah Judaism's Shmuel Halpert and Ya'acov Litzman left the chamber as a girl's choir began to sing a festive song. MK Moshe Gafni only arrived later. The MKs repeated the move when the choir led the 800-member audience in singing the national anthem. The Arab MKs and some haredim did not join in. Despite the incidents, the majority of MKs displayed a collegiality that won't likely repeat itself on that level in the 15th Knesset. The joy of the One Israel MKs to return to the House as the ruling party was readily apparent, while the Likud MKs were mostly sullen. Meanwhile, Shas's rise in power from 10 to 17 seats has given the House a new feel. Instead of the balance of power between the Likud and Labor on opposite sides of the House, the large Shas section in the middle accentuates the fragmentation of power that began with the direct elections system in the 1996 elections and deepened with the May elections. The Knesset will convene again next Tuesday afternoon, instead of Monday, since the Likud had scheduled a meeting of its central committee at that time.
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To the sound of trumpets, President Ezer Weizman opened the session by urging the new Knesset to serve as an example to the public in order to succeed in the needed national task of bridging differences in society.
