Improving the Image of the Knesset

Yesterday, a team of Israeli leaders met with President Reuven Rivlin at his residence to form a new caucus focused on restoring the public's faith in Israel's Parliament. The caucus, led by MK Elazar Stern, will work together with the Israel Democracy Institute to improve the Knesset's image. "The Knesset is one of the most important institutions in our democracy. Improving its ability to function and its image in the eyes of the public is of extreme national importance," said IDI President Yohanan Plesner.

Yesterday, a team of Israeli leaders met with President Reuven Rivlin at his residence to form a new caucus focused on restoring the public's faith in Israel's Parliament. The caucus, led by MK Elazar Stern, will work together with the Israel Democracy Institute to improve the Knesset's image.

"The Knesset is one of the most important institutions in our democratic lives. Strengthening its ability to function and its image in the eyes of the public are of foremost importance to the state," IDI President Yohanan Plesner said. "According to research conducted recently by IDI, only 35 percent of the public trusts the Knesset, which is very worrisome. This must be changed. To do so, we must provide our members of Knesset with improved oversight capabilities and empower them to oversee government authorities, rather than the current over emphasis on dealing with private and populist legislation."

He continued: "In addition, let's fix the party institutions and the way that we elected our political leaders. This process has weakened in recent decades and the public's faith in the parties is at a nadir. There is a direct connection between the quality of the party processes and what is accomplished in the Knesset."