18th Knesset To Be Sworn In Today

The 120 members of the new Knesset will official start work today as they are sworn into office. The ceremony will bring the new Knesset in after a three month lapse since the 17th Knesset was disbanded.

The longest serving MK, Michael Eitan of the Likud, will become acting Speaker of the Knesset until a new speaker is elected. As this term begins, we still do not know who will end up as the new Prime Minister. Benjamin Netanyahu has about a month remaining to put together a coalition.

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will continue to hold his former office until the new Prime Minister can form a coalition.

I hope Bibi can pull things together soon. I think everyone is ready for the election limbo to end and the new government to start working on fixing the many problems facing Israel today. I see security issues taking first priority. Finance and infrastructure (mainly water) will probably be close behind.