Knesset to return with summer session amid coalition crisis

PM summons coalition party leaders to rally their support of the government and prevent its demise as the opposition considers tabling motion to see it dissolve after loss of majority following whip's departure
i24NEWS, Ynet|Updated:
The Knesset begins its summer session on Monday as the coalition hangs by a thread after losing its majority, and the opposition vows to bring it down.
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  • Former whip and Yamina MK Idit Silman on April 6 said she was leaving the coalition which remained without a majority in the 120-seat parliament.
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    ישיבת ממשלה
    ישיבת ממשלה
    Former whip and Yamina MK Idit Silman
    (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch)
    The crisis has been further exacerbated by the Islamist Ra'am party freezing its membership in the coalition due to the unrest on Jerusalem's Temple Mount. If Ra'am withdraws its support, the government will be in a clear minority.
    On Sunday, opposition parties heads held a meeting at Likud's headquarters in Tel Aviv, agreeing to continue the "determined and unified fight" to topple the government.
    The opposition plans to bring a vote of no confidence on Monday, a largely symbolic move not expected to have a real effect beyond potentially embarrassing the government.
    They were also reportedly weighing whether to bring forward a bill to topple the government on Wednesday.
    2 View gallery
    נפתלי בנט
    נפתלי בנט
    Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
    (Photo: Olivia Pitusi)
    If put forward by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and passed in a preliminary reading, the government would not dissolve. The motion would, instead, need to pass a first, second and third vote in future sessions.
    Bennett spoke with coalition party leaders and other officials on Sunday, in an attempt to unite them all for the challenges ahead.
    In addition, the coalition parties held situation assessments to examine which legislation could be passed with support from the opposition and which would not, without risking the already fragile coalition.
    After the meetings, Bennett's office said that all the parties agreed to "work together to prevent the government's fall and to do what is best for the citizens of Israel."
    "We have a national responsibility and we are committed to continuing to uphold this government. It would be irresponsible to drag Israel into elections and chaos at this time. The continued existence of the government depends on each and every one of us and together we can succeed," Bennett said.
    First published: 09:37, 05.09.22
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