JERUSALEM – Israel’s latest government crisis was resolved on Sunday, at least temporarily, as a lawmaker leave the alliance last weekend agreed to go back to it, regaining the small majority that the opposition had held over the weekend.
The Coalition, an ideologically diverse coalition of eight parties with conflicting agendas, now returns to control of 60 seats in the 120-seat National Assembly, a position that allows it to remain in power but That makes management difficult.
Many Israelis believe the days of this government – less than a year old and inherently unstable – are still numbered, despite the crisis being resolved on Sunday, and hope that Israel will return. polls in several months for the fifth election. in less than four years.
The last few weeks have been particularly turbulent for the government led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, whose unusual coalition includes parties from the right, left and centre, and includes an Islamist party for the first time. small. Those partners mostly come together Share the desire to remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and to break a political deadlock that had forced Israel to contest four consecutive elections.
The lawmaker at the center of the most recent disruption, Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi, a Palestinian minority member of Israel from the left-wing Meretz party, resigned on Thursday, saying the government was not committed to improving the conditions. conditions for Arab citizens, who make up a fifth of the country’s population. She also pointed out Israel’s recent Intervention at Aqsa . Mosque in Jerusalem and a police attack on mourners at the funeral of a Palestinian journalist.
On Sunday, after days of meetings and calls from politicians begging her to continue her engagement and obligations to her party and coalition, Ms. his decision “under great pressure from the leaders of the local Arab councils, who turned to me and who understood the implications of my resignation. “
She said she did so to help her people and to avoid the possibility that a Bennett government replacement would be one in which a radical far-right politician, Itamar Ben-Gvir, would be the next minister. under police supervision.
Her return to the coalition probably prevented a vote being scheduled for Wednesday to dissolve Parliament, as the opposition is now unlikely to muster a majority.
Mr. Netanyahu continued to sabotage the government on Sunday following the change of Mrs. Rinawie Zoabi, accusing it of “depending on those who hate Israel and support terrorism”, referring to Arab members. Mr. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, opposition leader and prepare for the comebackeven while being tried for corruption charges.
The turmoil of recent weeks has turned sour even by Israeli standards and is a far cry from Mr. Bennett’s promise of ending the years. political chaos and deadlock.
Last month, another member of the coalition resigned, saying the government’s direction did not reflect the values of right-wing voters who brought her party to power. Legislator, Idit Silman, from Mr. Bennett’s Yamina partysaid it was time to try to form a new “national, Jewish, Zionist” coalition with right-wing lawmakers.
Less than two weeks ago, the small Muslim party Raam agree to rejoin the alliance one month after suspending participation in protest of police actions at Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli commentators have called this a season of political blackmail, with the solid government in danger of collapse with each resignation or suspension and with the opposition’s intention to entice one person. other defectors crossed the line.
Many do not expect the government to last beyond next March, if it goes that far. If the government cannot muster a majority of 61 votes to pass the budget by the statutory deadline that month, Parliament will automatically be dissolved, sending Israelis back to the ballot box next summer.
