Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have staved off the collapse of the government, after a key partner withdrew a threat to leave the coalition.
Israel’s right-wing coalition government was thrown into turmoil on November 14 when hawkish defence minister Avigdor Liberman resigned and pulled his Yisrael Beitenu party’s five legislators out of the governing coalition in opposition to an Israeli ceasefire with Gaza militants.
In the two days prior to a ceasefire on November 13, Palestinian militant group Hamas fired some 460 rockets and mortars at Israel – the biggest bombardment in four years – and Israel responded with 160 air strikes, targeting militant sites in Gaza. The enclave has been under an Israeli and Egyptian blockade since Hamas seized power more than a decade ago. Mr Liberman demanded the Israeli army to retaliate more forcefully for Hamas’s rocket barrage.
The latest round of hostilities was triggered by a botched Israeli mission into Gaza earlier this month that resulted in the deaths of seven Palestinians, including a Hamas commander, and one Israeli commando.
Mr Netanyahu refused to commit to an all-out war, with the apparent agreement of Israel’s security establishment, agreeing instead to a truce with Gaza militants. Mr Liberman believes that Mr Netanyahu capitulated by showing undue restraint in responding to rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.
Mr Netanyahu appeared to have lost the support of another key coalition partner, the rightwing, pro-settlement Jewish Home party, too, because its leader and education minister Naftali Bennett – who also demanded harsh military action to defeat Hamas – didn’t get the defense portfolio, but Mr Bennett announced on Monday he would remain in the coalition.
Mr Netanyahu has taken over the post of defence minister himself, adding it to his jobs as foreign minister and head of government.
The withdrawal of Mr Lieberman and his party has left Mr Netanyahu’s government clinging to a single-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Mr Netanyahu’s Likud only has 30 Knesset seats.
The Likud party would remain the dominant party if elections were held today, according to polls. Mr Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party is polling poorly. The traditional leftwing opposition could lose as many as half of its seats.
Photo: U.S. Embassy Jerusalem
