The Parliament named itself the Kneset (Hebrew for “assembly”), and still uses that name today. It is interesting that 9 of 12 members of the first Israeli government were born on the territory of what was once the Russian Empire.
The parliament of the state of Israel held its first session on this day in 1949. This took place in the Jewish Agency Building in Jerusalem. The building looks like a fortress, and it is located in the Jerusalem district of Rehavia. The distance from that building to the Old City in Jerusalem is around one kilometer.
Chaim Weizmann, the man who soon after became the first president of the state of Israel, held a speech during that first session. The Parliament named itself the Kneset (Hebrew for “assembly”), and still uses that name today.
The Mapai party, led by David Ben-Gurion, had the largest number of seats at the first session of the Kneset. He was also elected the first prime minister of Israel. Other ministers in the first government included, among others, Golda Meir and Moshe Sharett (who later became prime ministers). It is interesting that 9 of 12 members of the first Israeli government were born on the territory of what was once the Russian Empire.
