26th Knesset sworn in with record 33 female MKs, Netanyahu warns of Iran threat

The 26th Knesset was sworn in on Tuesday with a record 33 women (28% of members) and nine MKs from bereaved families. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking a record 15th Knesset term, warned of international pressure to accept a nuclear Iran and called for a unity government.

The 'Choose Your MK' project examined the backgrounds of 120 members of the 26th Knesset and found notable gaps between factions. Likud leads in the number of MKs with ministerial experience: 15 out of 27 faction members, about 56%, have previously served as ministers. A higher proportion relative to faction size was recorded in Shas, with four out of six members (67%). At the other end, the Joint List has no MK with ministerial experience. 33 women were elected to the Knesset, with Yashar having a female majority, while Shas and United Torah Judaism have no female representation at all. 97% of female MKs hold an academic degree, compared to 74% of men. 80% of all MKs are academics, and 30 of them are licensed lawyers. 88 MKs served in the IDF, of whom 38 have combat experience. In the sectoral dimension, religious individuals are represented at a rate 2.2 times higher than their share in the population (26.7% vs. 12.4%), while traditional individuals are underrepresented (12.9% vs. 35.8%). Arabs and Druze constitute 15.8% of the Knesset compared to 21.7% of the population.