Knesset Building

The Knesset building () is the seat of the Knesset, which is the legislature of Israel. The building is situated in Kiryat HaMemshala, a government complex in Jerusalem, and was built between 1958 and 1966. The exterior was designed by German architect Ossip Klarwein, while the interior was designed by Dora Gad.

The Knesset building has six stories, housing the Knesset's Plenum, as well as the offices of its committees, departments, and legislators. The compound also contains the Knesset Library and the Chagall Lounge. The Knesset was expanded twice, with southern and eastern wings being added in later years. The building currently stands at 50,000 square feet.

History

Temporary seats

Ahead of Israeli Independence, the leadership of the Yishuv formed the and the on 18 April 1948, with both organizations working out of the Jewish National Fund's headquarters in Tel Aviv. Following the Israeli Declaration of Independence, both organizations were replaced by the Provisional State Council, which remained at the JNF's headquarters until June, when they were evicted by JNF personnel who returned from Jerusalem. Following their eviction, the Council relocated to the , convening on the second floor in a room consisting of two converted bedrooms and preparing for a general election to be held later that year. After the election was postponed in July, the council moved to the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, convening mostly in the evenings to avoid disrupting the museum's operations.

The First Knesset convened its first four meetings between 14 and 17 February 1949 in the National Institutions House in Jerusalem. It then moved to the Kessem Cinema building, later the Opera Tower in Tel Aviv on 8 March.

In response to the passage United Nations General Assembly Resolution 303 in December of 1949 which declared Jerusalem to be an International Zone, Jerusalem was declared the Capital of Israel, and the Knesset relocated to the JNF's regional headquarters. On 13 March 1950, it relocated to the Froumine House, where it remained until 1966.

Conception and construction

Discussions on the construction of a permanent Knesset building, alongside other government buildings at Givat Ram, began in April of 1949. Initial proposals included building the Knesset near or inside the International Convention Center, in the current location of Beit HaNassi, or within Kiryat HaMemshala.

In 1955, it was decided to build the Knesset near Kiryat Hamemshala, both to reduce traffic and to symbolize the separation of powers. The Knesset began a contest to design the building in July of 1956, but no Israeli Architects applied on account of the low budget. Nine days before the contest's winner was announced, it was announced that the recently deceased James de Rothschild had donated 1.25M£ to the building's construction in his will. In July of 1957, the contest's winner was revealed to be German Architect Ossip Klarwein.
The choice of Klarwein's design attracted criticism from Israeli architects, with the National Association of Israel Architects referring to it as "outdated" and "unrepresentative of Israel". Knesset Speaker Yosef Sprinzak responded by forming a committee of International Architects to study the design. The committee approved the design in April of 1958.

The building's cornerstone was laid by Dorothy de Rothschild on 14 October 1958. In order to make Klarwein's design less controversial, the Knesset appointed Dov Karmi to advise on the building's construction. Karmi and his son Ram made several adjustments to Klarwein's design - shrinking the building's size, turning its rectangular shape into a square and moving several of its offices to the building's outskirts. The building was built by the National Roads Company and several contractors, including Solel Boneh. The Knesset's interior was designed primarily by Dora Gad, while sculptor Dani Karavan created the sculpture " Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem", which lies behind the speaker's podium.

The Knesset building's inauguration was originally set for Tu B'Av on 1 August 1966, but was postponed until the 22nd of August, when the building's ownership was formally handed to Knesset Speaker Kadish Luz Yigal Allon.

Inauguration ceremony

The building's construction lasted 5 years and cost 22 Million ILP. In February 1960, the State Comptroller of Israel released a report criticizing budgetary irregularities in the construction. After the building's construction, several ceremonies were held to inaugurate the building beginning on 29 August 1966. Several dozen heads of foreign legislatures arrived to partake in the ceremonies, and were greeted by Kadish Luz at Lod Airport.

The main inauguration ceremony, held on 30 August 1966, was attended by approximately 5,000 people. The next morning, the Knesset held its inaugural meeting in the building, which was attended by the head of the foreign legislatures. Guests included House of Commons Speaker Horace King, as well as the heads of the legislatures of Canada, Austria, West Germany, France, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Australia and Japan, as well as Senator Walter Mondale and members of the United States House of Representatives. The Speaker of Iceland's Althing spoke at the event.

60s and 70s

The Knesset was shelled by Jordanian forces during the Six-Day War in 1967.

The land upon which the Knesset building lies was leased for 99 years from the Greek Orthodox Church in 1951. The Israeli Government purchased the land from the church in the 1990s.

First expansion

Speaker Menachem Savidor lobbied for the expansion of the Knesset building as early as 1984. Around 1986, a large pit was dug out south of the Knesset to prepare for a future expansion. After construction was delayed due to budgetary shortfalls, caravans were placed within the pit to serve as temporary office space for Knesset members. Construction began after the Knesset allocated additional funds in 1989. The wing, which was given the name Negba, was completed in the early 1990s.

Future expansion

In August of 2019, Jerusalem's municipal planning committee authorized another expansion of the Knesset building. The plan intended on doubling the building's size, expanding the building of the Knesset Guard, and creating solar panel installations near the building for environmental reasons. The expansion also includes a station on the Tel Aviv Light Rail. The plan faces criticism from environmental activists for the proposed allotment of four vehicles for each member of the Knesset, and for the planned size of the expansion, which would results in the removal of 700 trees and create a compound bigger than the Palace of Westminster and United States Capitol.

Interior

Entrance and Knesset Courtyard

The Knesset building is located near Givat Ram, with most entrances facing north. The main entrance, known as the Etrog entrance, connects to the building's fourth floor and goes through the Knesset's courtyard. The entrance to the courtyard once went through the Palombo gate, an Iron gate overlaid with a memorial to victims of the Holocaust. Following renovations in November of 2007, the gate was moved to a different location alongside a sculpture of the burning bush.

Opposite the main entrance lies the Knesset Menorah, a sculpture of the Temple menorah made by British sculptor Benno Elkan and donated to the Knesset by the British Parliament. Besides the entrance lies a cenotaph to Israel's war casualties.
File:93060 jerusalem - palombo gate PikiWiki Israel.jpg, link=file:///93060_jerusalem_-_palombo_gate_PikiWiki_Israel.jpg, Palombo gate
File:The burning bush sculpture by David Palombo.jpg, link=file:///The_burning_bush_sculpture_by_David_Palombo.jpg, Burning bush sculpture
File:Gate of the Tribes door.jpg, link=file:///Gate_of_the_Tribes_door.jpg, A door at the 'Gate of the Tribes' Entrance
File:Knesset 5th floor.jpg, link=file:///Knesset_5th_floor.jpg, Hallway on the 5th floor

Chagall Lounge

The Chagall lounge lies on the fourth floor, and is used to host official events. The lounge includes multiple works of art by its namesake Marc Chagall. The lounge also includes a stairway which leads to the speaker's office and the Knesset Plenum.
File:Israel prize wall at the Knesset.jpg, Photos of all members of the Knesset who won the Israel Prize
File:Dan Ben Shmuel Knesset.jpg, Bronze relief made by artist Dan Ben-Shmuel
File:Chagall Lounge overview.jpg, View of the Chagall lounge from the main entrance
File:Chagall's wall Mosaic V.jpg, Mosaic wall at the Chagall lounge

First floor

The first floor was used by the Knesset's committees until 2007, when they moved to the Negba wing. The floor was subsequently converted into office space for members of the Knesset. The floor also contains the Knesset's synagogue.

Second floor

The Knesset's second floor primarily consists of office space used by government ministers. It also contains a conference room and an entrance to the Knesset Plenum. Art by painter Moshe Castel is presented in the hallway
File:Cabinet floor Knesset.jpg, View of the first floor
File:Jerusalem song of Fame.jpg, Artwork by Moshe Castel
File:Chaim Weizmann painting in Knesset.jpg, 1945 portrait of Chaim Weizmann on display on the first floor
File:Knesset building cabinet room.jpg, Cabinet meeting room

Third floor

The third floor includes the Plenary hall of the Knesset, where it conducts its plenary sessions. The hall includes 116 seats for members of the Knesset, as well as additional seats for members of the governing coalition. Members of the coalition are seated to the podium's left, while members of the opposition are seated to its right. At the front of the hall is a podium used by the Presiding Officer, the Knesset Secretary and two stenographers. Behind the podium is the sculpture " Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem", designed by Dani Karavan.

The third floor also includes the Knesset's canteens - one exclusive to members of the Knesset and their invitees, and another for the general public, as well as the Knesset's Library and infirmary.

Newer Wings

Negba Wing

The Negba wing contains 48 offices used by Knesset members, as well as a 330-seat auditorium used for events.
File:Knesset committees floor.jpg, Hallway near Knesset committee rooms
File:Kedma wing2.jpg, Courtyard at the Kedma wing
File:Knesset Auditorium entrance.jpg, Knesset Auditorium entrance
File:Knesset Auditorium.jpg, View of the Knesset Auditorium

Kidma wing

The Kidma wing is the newest of the Knesset's wings, and was opened in 2008. The wing contains four floors, as well as several gardens containing displays of archaeological artifacts.

The wing also contains the conference rooms and offices of Knesset committees, as well as the Knesset's gym, library, archive, the studios of the Knesset Channel and 49 offices for Knesset members. The wing also contained the Knesset's post office until its closure in April of 2023.{{Citation needed, date=March 2025

See also

* Knesset

External links

Information about the Knesset building
from the Knesset's website

Notes

References

Legislative buildings
Neoclassical buildings and structures
Buildings and structures in Jerusalem
Coordinates on Wikidata

Seats of national legislatures
1966 establishments in Israel