Posted on 04/06/2022 6:01:03 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
JERUSALEM - A key member of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's Yamina party said Wednesday she was quitting his coalition government, in a surprise move that leaves him without a parliamentary majority.
Idit Silman's announcement left Bennett's coalition, an alliance of parties ranging from the Jewish right and Israeli doves to an Arab Muslim party, with 60 seats -- the same as the opposition.
Although Silman's defection does not mean the fall of the coalition, it raises the spectre of a potential return to office by veteran leader Benjamin Netanyahu, less than a year after he lost the premiership to Bennett.
"I tried the path of unity. I worked a lot for this coalition," Silman, a religious conservative who served as coalition chairperson, said in a statement.
"Sadly, I cannot take part in harming the Jewish identity of Israel."
On Monday, Silman had lashed out at Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, after he instructed hospitals to allow leavened bread products onto their premises during the upcoming Passover holiday, in line with a recent supreme court ruling reversing years of prohibition.
Jewish tradition bars leavened bread from the public domain during Passover.
"I am ending my membership of the coalition and will try to continue to talk my friends into returning home and forming a right-wing government," Silman said.
"I know I'm not the only one who feels this way."
- 'Dangerous instability' -
Bennett met with leaders of the coalition parties following the announcement.
"All of them want to continue with the government," he said.
"The alternative is more elections," he added, warning this could spell "dangerous instability for Israel".
The most important thing now is to "stabilise" the alliance, Bennett said, accusing Netanyahu supporters of pushing Silman to quit by launching "verbal attacks" against her.
(Excerpt) Read more at bangkokpost.com ...
FROM THE ARTICLE:
"I call on whoever was elected with the votes of the national camp to join Idit and come back home, you'll be received with all due honour and open arms," he added.
Thousands of Netanyahu supporters gathered Wednesday evening in Jerusalem, shouting "Bennett, out" and demanding an end to the coalition government, AFP journalists said.
"Tonight, we say to the government one thing: leave," Netanyahu told the crowd.
Israel's longest-serving prime minister -- in office from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 until June -- Netanyahu had pledged to play the role of spoiler against Bennett's government, which brought an end to his hold on power.
Bennett hates Bibi (as Bibi is a populist), but even so, he’s able to hate Bibi, and still love Israel (hates the Iran deal, bombs terrorists as needed, etc.).
I only wish we were so lucky, but in the US, if you hate Trump, you also also have to hate America. In fact, I’m hard-pressed to come up with a single Trump-hater (of either party) who also supports policies that put America first.
HeHe
I recall telling people that coalition would not last and Bibi would be back.
A government brought down by yeast.
I always liked BB, but I didn’t think Bennet was doing a terrible job. I’ll always pray for the “Peace of Jerusalem” as we are commanded to do.
I liked very much that Bennet advised Zelenski to submit to Russian demands in order to save lives and his country. Seems like he was the only leader to do so I’ve seen. Blessed by the peace makers.
I had a buddy in the army who dumped a local girl because of yeast—a yeast infection!
We called him the oatmeal man after that, which simply morphed into Quaker Man.
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
Oh well, elections again
Bibi turned out to be a user of Trump, not a friend. If I recall, Trump dumped him from his Twitter account after he congratulated Biden.
Bibi of all people must know of the election fraud....
Go BiBi !!
Iran’s worst nightmare.
I think they hate Trump simply because he loves America.
Bibi has been a disappointment
Wow, throws the government into turmoil over levened bread. That is hard core!
RE: Bibi has been a disappointment
Can you explain?
He shat on trumps big steal right away
First major HOS to do so
AND TRUMP DID MORE FOR ISRAEL THAN ANYONE EVER HAS SINCE IDF IN 73
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