Trumpets, Robots and Harel Skaat: Ceremony to Swear In the 26th Knesset Held Today

In depth

The 26th Knesset will open today with a festive ceremony at the Knesset building in Jerusalem. The morning will begin with flowers on the lapel and photographs of the newly elected Knesset members, and at noon the President will be received with an honor guard. The IDF orchestra will play trumpet fanfares, and robots will greet the Knesset members.

At 16:00 Herzog will open the session. The father of a soldier who fell in the Gaza Strip will read a chapter of Psalms, and Harel Skaat will perform. Afterward the 120 members will declare "I pledge," and excerpts from the Declaration of Independence will be screened on the plenum screens.

In his speech at the ceremony, Netanyahu attacked the Arab parties and warned against forming a government with their support. Following the speech an uproar broke out, and Knesset members left the hall.