The measure is seen as a symbolic gesture and could be decided by the next meeting of Israel’s Knesset next month.
The United Arab List (UAL) party, also known by its Hebrew name Ra’am, has suspended participation in Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition government, blaming days of violence at Jerusalem’s hotspot Al-Aqsa Mosque for its decision.
The party, whose supporters come mostly from Palestinian citizens of Israel, a minority making up about 21 percent of the approximately nine million population, is led by Mansour Abbas and was the first party representing Palestinian citizens to join an Israeli government.
Bennett took office last June after struggling to cobble together a coalition government capable of toppling Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He did this by creating a razor-thin majority of 61 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
But Bennett’s government lost that majority earlier this month when a far-right Knesset member resigned over a government decision to authorize the distribution of sourdough bread in hospitals during Passover, in line with a recent Supreme Court ruling that reversed years of the practice’s ban have been done.
Bennett’s coalition – a mix of left-wing hard-line Jewish nationalist and religious parties plus the UAL – is deeply divided ideologically and now has just 60 seats in parliament – just like the opposition.
On Sunday evening, the UAL – which has four seats in Bennett’s coalition – said it was “suspending” its support and freezing its parliamentary activities.
“If the government continues its moves against the people of Jerusalem… we will step down as a bloc,” the UAL said in a statement.
The announcement comes two days after Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, resulting in at least 150 wounded and numerous arrests.
The UAL’s withdrawal from Bennett’s government will not affect the government immediately as the Knesset is on recess until May 8th.
Israeli daily Haaretz said the UAL move was coordinated with Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and is intended to allow UAL supporters to “let off steam” but avoid an actual exit from the ruling coalition.
Some political commentators said the announcement was a symbolic gesture to take pressure off UAL party leaders during the crisis and that the dispute could be settled by next month’s parliamentary session.
The UAL Shura Council – an advisory body of religious leaders – is expected to reconvene in two weeks after the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
Sources say Bennett will now try to settle the situation with the UAL, and while his coalition can govern with 60 seats, it will struggle to pass new legislation.
If another member leaves the ruling coalition, the Knesset could call a vote of no confidence, which could send Israel back to a fifth general election in four years.