The Knesset

The Israeli Parliament, also known as "The Knesset" has wandered from building to building until it has arrived to its final residence in Jerusalem's Givaat Ram in the year 1966. The funding for the building was donated from the Baron Edmond James de Rothschild, who has left 6 million Israeli Lira's in his will for the purpose of the establishment of the parliament. The baron has also left a personal letter to Ben-Gurion where he wrote:" May the parliament building be an eternal symbol for the eternalness of the Israeli state.

The building was inaugurated on 1966 with an impressive ceremony. One of the reasons for the many trees surrounding the parliament is security. The parliament was built during the "urban line" time- where Jerusalem was divided between Israel and the Jordanian kingdom, while on the southern hills, is where the Jordanian legion cannons stood.

This is also the reason why the entrance for the parliament is facing north.The main gate was designed by David Plumbo, who has also designed "the eternal flame"- in memory of the fallen Israeli military soldiers which is located to the right of the main entrance.In the main hall an exact replica of the Israeli Declaration of Independence which content was read on the same day as the day the state was founded on 14.05.48. the main lounge was designed by the French-Jewish artist Mark Chagall and it includes three wall carpets which entail the history of the Israeli nation, 12 mosaics and one wall mosaic.

The main hall, where the parliament debate take place is the assembly hall. In the parliament there are 120 members which are seated in a lamp like arrangement.In the center of the podium the parliament chairman sits, to his right the speakers stand and to the rear a decorated wall with a picture of the Binyamin Ze'ev Herzl.Other than the assembly hall, the building has many other rooms, such as: board meeting rooms, personal chambers and committee chambers.North of the parliament building lays the Knesset menorah and rose garden, which are highly recommended to visit.

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The Parliament Building, Jerusalem

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Attraction Details

Activity Hours
Tours are held on Sundays and Thursdays between 8:30 AM-2:30 PM
Languages: Hebrew, Arabic, French, German and Russian.
Small groups are asked to coordinate the visit ahead of time with the visitation center.