Jerusalem, 10 November (H.S.): The inaugural session and swearing-in ceremony of Israel’s 26th Knesset began on Tuesday. The ceremony is being attended by President Isaac Herzog, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The programme commenced at 8 am local time (11:30 am Indian Standard Time).

According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, newly elected members of the Knesset were presented with flowers at the parliamentary entrance to pin to their lapels. They were also welcomed by two robots named Mr. Weil and Mrs. Chagall. The official reception ceremony is scheduled to begin at 3:20 pm local time in the Knesset Plaza, where Ohana will welcome President Herzog. The Knesset Guard will conduct a ceremonial parade in the President’s honour, accompanied by trumpet fanfares performed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Orchestra.

This will be followed by the raising of the presidential flag, after which Herzog and Ohana will inspect the honour guard. The President will also lay wreaths at the memorial to Israel’s fallen soldiers and the monument commemorating victims of terrorist attacks, both located in the Knesset Plaza.

Thereafter, Herzog and Ohana will proceed to the entrance hall of the Knesset Speaker’s office, where the President will sign the ‘President’s Book’. This specially prepared volume traditionally carries messages written by Israel’s Presidents for each newly elected Knesset.

The President will then enter the Knesset plenum for the swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected lawmakers. The formal session is scheduled to begin at 4 pm local time. Herzog will officially open the sitting by striking the gavel three times before delivering his address. He will then invite Ohana to take the oath of office and hand over to him the responsibility of presiding over the session.

Following Ohana’s address, all 120 members of the Knesset will take their oaths one by one. Ohana and Prime Minister Netanyahu will also address the gathering. Israeli singer Harel Skaat will perform during the ceremony.

The proceedings will begin with Avi Harush, father of the late Sergeant Reef Harush, reciting Psalm 122 from the Book of Psalms.

Sergeant Reef Harush was killed in combat in the southern Gaza Strip in April 2024. Excerpts from Israel’s Declaration of Independence will also be displayed on screens in the Knesset’s main hall, with the text presented in the voice of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister.

The session will conclude with a performance by the Pirchei Ashkelon children’s choir, which will sing Israel’s national anthem, ‘Hatikvah’.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar