Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government narrowly avoided collapse on Monday, after Education Minister Naftali Bennett backed down on his ultimatum to pull his Jewish Home party out of the government if he was not made Defence Minister.
In a press conference alongside Justice Secretary Ayelet Shaked from the Jewish Home, Bennett said he would not leave the government and would “stand by the Prime Minister’s side”. Bennett cited national unity as the main reason why he had decided to stay in the Government, stating: “It’s better that the Prime Minister beats me in a political battle than Haniya [Hamas’s leader] beats Israel”.
The situation was helped by Netanyahu’s appeal on Sunday night to keep the unity of the current Israeli government during “one of our most complex periods in terms of security.” Netanyahu made the comments at the Knesset Defence and Foreign Affairs committee, where he also stressed that, “during this sensitive security time, it is irresponsible to bring down the government”.
Despite the turn of events, some still believe that it is still likely an early election is on the horizon. The Kulanu party’s Knesset faction chair, MK Roy Folkman, said “we will go to elections even if Bennett and Ayelet Shaked don’t resign”. After meeting with his Kulanu party Monday, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said a coalition with 61 members cannot hold. Kahlon announced that Kulanu has begun preparation for elections this May.
Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu faction’s departure has left the Government with a slim 61-seat majority.
