From its position stop a hill in western Jerusalem, the Israeli Knesset overlooks most of the new city. It is a rectangular stone building whose austere lines and sharp angles mold a basically classical exterior. Inside, the Israeli government meets to make decisions that will determine its country's future.

The Knesset combines the rough-hewn and informal with the grandiose. The legislative chamber, in which the 120 Knesset members most four days a week, contains simple beige swivel chairs arranged in concentric half-circles behind long curved desks. The ceiling is high and majestic, but the wall is carved in an abstract relief symbolizing peace; an incomplete circle represents the city of Jerusalem which was still split by barbed wire when this new seat of government was constructed in 1966.

The Knesset members reflect the informality if their surrounding. No more than three of the men wear ties; most are in open collar shirts and sport jackets. They lean back in their chairs or wander around the chamber, talking loudly with their neighbors while the Israeli defense minister tries to address them from the podium.

"Will all of you please sit down and be quiet," orders the Speaker of the Knesset, a short, round-faced man with a halo of gray, bushy hair adoring an otherwise bald head. "Have a little respect!"

The noise continues unabated.

"look, I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you so much really sorry,' says the Speaker a minute later-pounding his gavel. "But if you're not going to listen, will you please leave.

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Israeli political parties have listened to each other, compromised with each other, joined government coalitions and left these same coalitions in a continuous process beginning with the establishment of the state in 1948. The highly ideological nature of Zionism and the diverse factions within the movement have given to the Israeli political system many intensely ideological parties. (Twenty-four parties competed in the first elections in 1949. Sixteen succeeded in winning seats.)

Government decision-making is left in the hands of party oligarchies which must form coalitions to gain a majority in the Knesset. Party power is reinforced by an electoral system that requires voters to cast their ballots for party lists rather than for individuals.

Mapai, the center socialist party, has traditionally dominated all coalition governments. This has also resulted in a disproportionate influence for the National Religious Party (Mafdal), an essential Mapai ally in the often shaky coalitions. Mafdal generally agrees to support Mapai's foreign policy in return for Mapai acquiescence to Mafdal religious initiatives.

Israeli secularists, who far outnumber religious adherents, often attack this quid pro quo. "Religious law infringes on my basic freedoms," says a Hebrew University student. "Just because the religious community doesn't want to ride buses on the Sabbath doesn't give them the right to prohibit others from riding."

Although Israel remains a vehemently -- pluralistic democracy, the 27 years since Israeli independence have seen a softening of ideological differences. The pragmatic needs of an established state, its rapid economic growth, and national defense requirements have brought about a greater degree of concensus than existed in 1948.

There are currently 14 political parties represented in the Knesset, ranging from the communists--the only legal communist party in the Middle East--to the conservative Cherut party. Most parties are affiliated with one of three major political blocks: the Labor Alignment centered around Mapai and including several more strongly socialist parties as well as the Israeli Arab parties; the two religious parties, of which Mafdal is the largest and the center right block of three parties, called Likud.

The Labor Alignment and its affiliated Arab parties hold 54 seats and, in coalition with Mafdal (10 seats) and a small Independent Liberal party, form the ruling government under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The Likud block has 39 seats and is the major opposition force in the Knesset.

The complexity of the Israeli political structure is matched by the diversity of views in the Knesset. Economic problems (inflatiuon is currently running at an annual rate near 50 percent social issues (e.g. how to absorb more than 30,000 immigrants a year and religious questions have prompted differing solutions from all parties and even within parties.