government
Israel can’t get out of crisis mode – coalition gives up
Until a new government is sworn in, Jair Lapid is to take over the office of prime minister. Photo: Fabian Sommer/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
In Israel, the government is on the verge of collapse. Ex-Prime Minister Netanyahu is now hoping for a return to power. He therefore worked diligently to weaken the coalition.
Israel is back in the permanent political crisis: the government alliance, which has been shaky for a long time, is giving up. The eight-party coalition wants to dissolve parliament, paving the way for new elections.
It would be the fifth in three and a half years. The alliance of right-wing, left-wing and, for the first time, an Arab party no longer has a majority in the Knesset and recently failed in an important vote.
According to the will of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, parliament should now vote on the dissolution. It could be on the agenda as early as this Wednesday. However, due to the parliamentary voting procedure, Israeli media do not expect implementation before next week. Foreign Minister Jair Lapid will then temporarily take over the post of Prime Minister until there is finally a new government. The change is agreed in the coalition agreement.
Dispute over rights for settlers
The government recently failed to extend a legal settlement for Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories. Israeli law has so far applied to the settlers. However, the regulation would have expired at the end of June, which would have caused massive problems for the settlers. The dissolution of the Knesset means that Israeli law will continue to apply to them for the time being.
The mostly right-wing opposition was in principle in favor of an extension of the regulation, but nevertheless blocked it in order to put pressure on the government. Above all, ex-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been working for a long time to destabilize the coalition that robbed him of the post of Prime Minister.
The opposition leader, accused of corruption, is speculating on his return to power. He had previously been prime minister for more than a decade. Lapid warned Israel must not allow “dark forces” to destroy it from within.
According to polls, Netanyahu’s Likud party could become the strongest force again in a new election. However, it is unclear whether he will be able to form a government this time.
The election could take place at the end of October. The permanent political crisis is back, which the merger of the eight-party coalition ended in June last year. The fact that 18 people have been killed in terrorist attacks in Israel since March has further weakened the coalition government. Israelis attach great importance to security in the country.
In April, the political community of convenience lost its wafer-thin majority of 61 of the 120 seats because a member of parliament had turned his back on the coalition. A week ago, another member announced that he would be leaving soon.