Knesset to expand to sixth floor

The Knesset plans to add another floor to its building to make room for more offices in the coming years.

The sixth floor will be built to make room for new MKs in case the “Norwegian Law” is passed, costing an estimated NIS 140 million.

The “Norwegian Law” would have all ministers resign from the Knesset and be replaced by new MKs. However, if the ministers’ parties leave the government, they can return to the Knesset, and the lawmakers who replaced them would have to leave.

Currently, there is a “Mini-Norwegian Law,” which allows the situation for one minister or deputy minister per party.

Should the full “Norwegian Law” pass, the Knesset would have to find space for more than 20 additional offices.

If it passes before the new offices are built, the MKs will be able to work out of trailers that the Knesset will install for them, which are expected to be larger than the current MK offices. The Knesset plans to buy 40 office trailers and 20 bathroom and shower trailers, at a total cost of NIS 21m.

In addition, the existing lawmaker offices will be expanded in case they will be allowed to have more than the three aides they currently can hire, and a separate twoor three-story administrative building will be constructed for Knesset workers who don’t have direct day-to-day dealings with MKs, such as maintenance staff and the archive.

A visitor’s center will be built through which the 200,000 visitors each year will enter the Knesset, plus a structure for the Central Elections Committee, which currently works out of the main legislature building.

Knesset director-general Albert Sacharovich is also considering building a mini-hotel for MKs to stay in, because the legislature currently pays for them to stay at nearby hotels when there are all-night votes.