The first Parliament to meet on the soil of an independent Jewish state in nearly 2,000 years, was formally dissolved at noon today after two years and seven months of existence. Josef Sprinzak, Speaker of the Knesset, formally dissolved the body in a short speech, after which the 120 members and spectators in the gallery joined in singing Hatikvah.
Several hours later, the new Parliament, whose members were elected on July 31, held its opening session and re-elected Mr. Sprinzak Speaker. The new Parliament includes about 45 new members. The opening session was attended by members of the Israel Cabinet, including Premier David Ben Gurion.
The session heard a message from President Dr. Chaim Weizmann who stressed that “vital problems” are facing the new Knesset. The President informed Parliament that because of illness, he was unable to attend the opening session, whereupon the Knesset chose its oldest member–74-year-old General Zionist Hayim Boger–to preside over the session temporarily until a Speaker was elected.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
