Honorable President of the State, Mr. Shimon Peres,
My Friend, Acting Speaker of the Knesset, MK Michael Eitan,
Madam President of the Supreme Court, Dorit Beinish,
My Friend, Madam Speaker of the 17th Knesset, Ms. Dalia Itzik,
Madam Vice Prime Minister, Ms. Tzipi Livni,
Honorable Chairman of the Likud and Prime Minister-Designate, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu,
New and veteran Knesset Members,
Distinguished Guests,
I remember the first time I stood in the hall downstairs to pledge my allegiance. It seems as though many years have passed, more than the age of quite a few Knesset Members who today pledged allegiance to the Knesset and to the laws of Israel – testimony to the fact that something fundamental has changed for the better in the dynamics of political life in Israel.
Back then, I was the youngest among the Knesset Members. I believe today there are many Knesset members who are younger – probably a direct result of the fact that the entire Israeli society has become younger. Time is short and there is quite a bit of noise. The chances it will abate are probably slim. There is a large number of speakers. I wish you, new and veteran Knesset members, first of all that your term will last at least four years. It may sound obvious, but reality has proven that this is never the case. I hope that you will do what you have undertaken to do, which is to fulfill your duties with faith and dedication to the State of Israel, and that you will witness, during the term of this Knesset, peace and security for the State of Israel and all its residents.
I take this opportunity to say a personal word to my friend who served as Speaker of the Knesset, Dalia Itzik. I remember the moment three years ago when I invited Dalia to my office and asked her whether she would accept the proposal I was about to submit to the Knesset plenary to appoint her as Speaker of the Knesset. Contrary to what you think, she was not too enthusiastic, but to my great delight, she responded favorably. As the most veteran Knesset member – once the President left the Knesset I became not the oldest member, but the longest serving one – and as one who has an historic perspective of almost forty years, I must tell you that Dalia has brought great honor to the entire State of Israel. I remember giving you only one piece of advice. Not that I thought you needed it, but I felt a personal need to give it as a friend when I, as Prime Minister-Designate, suggested that you take on the position of Knesset Speaker. I told you: Dalia, you are now a member of a very dynamic, sweeping party. Once you are appointed Knesset Speaker, you must be bi-partisan, impartial and objective, because your conduct will determine the way the Knesset is reflected in the eyes of the people of Israel, and I believe that the entire Knesset, from left to right, opposition and coalition, can testify that this is what you did, with resolve that cannot be mistaken and responsibility that cannot be ignored, and with courtesy and grace, in a manner which brought honor to the Knesset and to Israeli democracy. More world leaders have visited the Knesset during your term as Speaker than at any other time in our history. More heads of state were invited to address the Knesset plenary. Some of them were particularly impressed with the vibrant and dynamic character of Knesset life as we all know it, but all of them, without exception, were impressed with the authority, restrained firmness and discipline you exercised over the entire Knesset, transforming it into the respectable institute it should be, a model for the entire Israeli society. As you are only at the beginning of your career and there is still a long road ahead of you, I will not tell you here and now what I wish for you. I only want to tell you, Dalia Itzik, that I thank you, on behalf of the Government of Israel and perhaps on this occasion, on behalf of the entire Knesset, for the remarkable way in which you carried out your duties, and to wish you equally success in bringing the same honor that you brought to this Knesset, to all the high positions still awaiting you.
Good luck.