The motley coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett lost its parliamentary majority on Wednesday after a surprise march by a right-wing MP celebrated by the opposition.
The departure of Idit Silman, an MP for the prime minister’s Yamina party, leaves the alliance with 60 MPs, one below the majority threshold in the Knesset, Israel’s 120-seat parliament.
“I tried the path of unity. I have worked tremendously for this coalition, but unfortunately I cannot do anything to harm Israel’s Jewish identity,” Silman said in a statement.
Bennett and centrist Yair Lapid formed a disparate coalition of 61 MPs in June, bringing together parties from the left, centre, right and an Arab formation, unusual in the country’s history and Benjamin Netanyahu’s 12-year tenure finished.
The coalition agreement provides for a position rotation between Bennett and current Secretary of State Lapid, as well as a division of ministerial posts.
“I will try to talk to my friends to go back home and form a right-wing government. I know I’m not the only one who thinks so,” said the defected MP, whose departure was celebrated by Netanyahu, leader of the conservative opposition.
Despite the ongoing corruption case against him, the ex-prime minister has urged the other right-wing MPs in the government to join him. “You will be welcomed with open arms and full honors,” he said.
The MP’s departure comes after a confrontation this week with Health Secretary Nitzan Horowitz, who, according to a Supreme Court decision, asked hospitals to authorize the distribution of yeast bread during the Jewish Passover holiday in place of the unleavened bread that marks the tradition.
It also comes at a time of uncertainty in the country, which has suffered three attacks in the past two weeks, two of which are linked to the jihadist organization Islamic State.
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