You wouldn't think that going to see the Israeli parliment would be a very interesting tourist attraction. However, I think that visiting the Knesset in Jerusalem could actually be quite fascinating.In Judaism we have a motto, "two Jew, three opinions". Essentially, that means that Jewish people are very vocal on their beliefs and never hesitate to voice their concerns. So take that recipe for Jewish interaction and add in a diverse political mix of people all working together (and sometimes ... not so together) to run a country, and you've got the Knesset.
To get an idea of just how "heated" the sessions can become, in October 1957, a visitor threw a hand-grenade toward's the speaker. The Minister of Religions was critically wounded and the Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, and Foreign Minister, Golda Meir, both sustained light injuries. As a result, the Visitors Gallery had to be enclosed in bullet-proof glass. The man repsonsible, Moshe Dwek, served a 15 year prison sentence and when he was released he had the "chutzpah" to run for Knesset seat in the 1988 election. He lost.
Knesset is the Hebrew word for "gathering" or "assembly". In Israel, the Knesset is responsible for passing laws, electing the President and Prime Minister (yes, in Israel they have two different leaders!), approves the cabinet, and supervises the government. The Knesset is comprised of 120 members from 18 different political parties. Phew! All Israeli citizens, regardless of their religion, are allowed to vote and/or be elected to the Knesset.
Free tours of the Knesset are offered Sunday through Thursday in the following languages: Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, German, Russion, and Amharic. Here is a list of the tours available:
General Tour - provides an overview of the role and responsibilities of the Knesset and introduces visitors to the works of art located in the main building. The art work includes several different wall tapestries and floor mosaics designed especially for the Knesset by Marc Chagall. (1 hour)
Archaeology Tour - self-guided walking tour of the Knesset's own archaeology park, comprised of artifacts found in Jerusalem digs (Go at your own pace)
Architecture Tour - focuses on the architectural design of the Knesset building and explains how the building was designed to represent the values of democracy. (2 hours)
Art & Photography Tour - features all the art works on display in the Knesset - paintings, photographs, sculptures, and archeological exhibits. Artists featured include: Marc Chagall, Moshe Castel, Re'uven Rubin, and David Rubinger. (2 hours)
Democracy in Practice Tour - provides a detailed overview of the election process and the roles of the Knesset members. The highlight of this tour is Declaration of Independence display. This tour is geared for visitors who are especially interested in the parliamentary process. (1 1/2 hours)
Law Tour - a combined tour of the Knesset and the Israeli Supreme Court. Special emphasis is given to the process of laws, from legislation to enforcement. (3 hours)
It is going to be hard for me to narrow down the choices to just one tour. With my love of art, I feel compelled to take the Art & Photography tour. However, I would also like to go on the General Tour and the Archaeology Tour. Hmmm, if I want to go on several tours, it looks like I will have to dedicate almost half a day for visiting the Knesset. Who would have thought I'd want to spend so much time in a government building?
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| One of the wall tapestries created especially for the Knesset by Marc Chagall. |
