Knesset 12-15

The Fourteenth Knesset

Election date: May 29th, 1996 – 11 Sivan, 5756
Duration: 3 years

Issues on the agenda	Important Events during the 14th Knesset
Direct election of Prime Minister (primaries)	Hebron Agreement (16/01/1997)
Extensive debates on economic policy: Bank of Israel’s high interest rate, Ministry of Finance budgetary restraint, slow-down in economy	Wye River Memorandum on West Bank and Gaza Strip (October 1998)
Debates on relations between State and religion	Affair concerning Ronnie Bar’On’s appointment as Attorney General

The Fifteenth Knesset

Election date: May 17th, 1999 – 2 Sivan, 5759
Duration: 3 years and 8 months

Issues on the agenda	Important Events during the 15th Knesset
Direct personal election revoked	Two prime ministers from different parties serve: Ehud Barak (One Israel) and Ariel Sharon (Likud)
Fierce disagreements over concessions within Camp David framework, Taba and Syrian front	Two new centrist parties: Central Party and Shinui
Deep economic recession	Unilateral IDF withdrawal from Lebanon
Government proposals for tax reform	Outbreak of 2nd Intifada
Increase in numbers of foreign workers and unemployment	Riots of October 2000
Avraham Burg initiates Knesset Research & Information Center and Commissioner for Future Generations	Hizballah kidnaps 3 Israeli soldiers; Israeli citizen kidnapped while abroad
Knesset directs independent external relations: invitations extended to Dalai Lama and Chairman of Palestinian Parliament, Abu Ala	Increase in suicide attacks by Palestinian terrorists
Record number (4,236) of private members laws proposed	Minister Rechavam Ze’evi assassinated
Important amendment to Basic Law: The State Economy	Operation Defensive Shield (March 2002)
Law delineating military service for yeshiva students, following Tal Committee proposals	Moshe Katzav elected to serve as 8th President of the State of Israel
Birth allowance doubled from 4th child on and child allowance increased from 5th child on
Law delineating activities of GSS (Shabak)
9 parliamentary inquiry committees appointed, including on slave trade of women, water, social gaps, road accidents

The Thirteenth Knesset

Election date: June 23rd, 1992 – 22 Sivan, 5752
Duration: 3 years and 11 months

Issues on the agenda	Important Events during the 13th Knesset
National Health Insurance Law enacted	Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty
Privatization of government owned companies and sale of bank shares held by the government	Oslo Accord
Intention to impose tax on stock market earnings	Assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin
Budget Law: MK Michael Eitan speaks non-stop for over 10 hours	Wave of terror attacks (March 1996)
Extensive debates on: domestic violence, violence among youth, women’s status	Avigdor Kahalani and Emanuel Zissman resign from Knesset and establish The Third Way
Introduction of primaries system	Massacre at Cave of Machpelah, Hebron
	Rabbi Uzi Meshulam affair

The Twelfth Knesset

Election date: November 1st, 1988 – 21 Cheshvan, 5749
Duration: 3 years and 8 months

Issues on the agenda	Important Events during the 12th Knesset
Three Basic Laws enacted: Basic Law: Freedom of Occupation; Basic Law: Human Dignity and Freedom; and Basic Law: the Government (new version)	Continuation of Intifada and terrorist activity
	Gulf War
	Disturbances on Temple Mount
	Start of peace initiative with Palestinians and elections in territories
	Madrid Conference
	Immigration from Soviet Union following break-up of CIS
	Operation Solomon
	Establishment of 2nd Television Channel and direct broadcasts from Knesset

Past and Present Knessets