Israeli government loses its majority

The defection of a deputy of the religious far-right weakened the coalition led by Naftali Bennett, in power since June 2021, and threatens to reopen the cycle of endless elections in which Israel became damaged for two years.

by

On a false step, almost by distraction, the Israeli government of Naftali Bennett lost its parliamentary majority, Wednesday, April 6 in the morning, and plays its survival. The irony is screaming: it is the “whip” of the coalition that has defected, Idit Silman, responsible for enforcing the voting discipline in his womb in the Knesset. It deprives this hitch of eight parties of its majority in a voice (61 deputies on 120), on which it binbigait with a surprising insurance since June 2021.

Young member (41 years old and two short mandates), from the small religious far-right Yamina of Mr. Bennett, which has six members, M me SILMAN makes his defection a case religious and honor conviction. She breaks with her training and the Prime Minister, who is incapable “to participate in the damage to the State of Israel and the Jewish character of the Israeli people” that he would endure. The case may seem secondary, but it recalls that this coalition can not afford to underestimate the least of its dissension. It follows a decision of the Supreme Court, which requires hospitals not to prevent patients from introducing foods based on raised or fermented flour (Humetz) during the Jewish Passover, which opens on April 15. / P>

Sometimes violent pressures

On Monday, M me Silman had launched an ultimatum. She felt that the Minister of Health and Left Party Meretz, Nitzan Horowitz, should resign if he did not give up the court’s decision. Did Mr. Bennett take his threats seriously? Since June, his troops have been dealing with pressure, sometimes violent, within their synagogue, their family circle, their neighborhood and more widely from their former “family” political, the nationalist and religious right directed by the ex -Premier Minister Benyamin Netanyahu.

Wednesday, M me Silman announced that she would continue her efforts to persuade her colleagues to “go home and train a right-wing government”. Shortly after, Mr. Netanyahu congratulated him for his strength of conviction, calling his comrades to imitate him. “You will be received with all the respect that is owed to you and with open arms,” ​​he said. In the morning, Mr. Bennett canceled all his appointments and tried to join this lost sheep.

In the short term, the brilliant shot of M me Silman does not promise to mechanically revive the cycle of elections in which Israel has gave up for two years, between 2019 and 2021, Over four polls. With 60 deputies, there is only one voice to the opposition to dissolve Parliament. But all its members do not necessarily have an interest in confronting voters. The Knesset remains in any case in stop for five weeks. Members are in their constituencies and are getting ready to celebrate the holidays. The coalition has a budget until March 2023, it can still have its texts vote with the support of the United Arab list (six members).

You have 48.53% of this article to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.

/Media reports.