Israel PM Netanyahu’s government loses majority
In a major blow to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of his key governing partners, the Shas party, announced on Wednesday that it was quitting his coalition government, leaving him with a minority in parliament. The development marks a significant setback for Netanyahu, who has been facing mounting challenges to his leadership and faced criticism for his handling of several key issues, including the ongoing conflict with the Gaza Strip.
According to reports, the Shas party, which is a significant player in Israeli politics and represents the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, made the decision to withdraw from the government following a disagreement over the budget and other key issues. The party’s leader, Aryeh Deri, stated that the decision to leave the government was taken after failed attempts to resolve the disagreements through negotiations.
The Shas party’s decision to quit the government means that Netanyahu’s coalition now holds only 59 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel’s parliament, leaving him with a minority government. This development increases the likelihood of early elections, which could potentially topple Netanyahu from power.
However, in a surprise move, the Shas party announced that it would be willing to vote with the coalition on certain laws, while also vowing not to support the government’s collapse. This means that Netanyahu’s government could potentially still pass legislation, although it would have to rely on opposition parties to do so.
The Shas party’s decision to quit the government is seen as a significant blow to Netanyahu, who has been struggling to maintain his grip on power. The prime minister has been facing criticism for his handling of the conflict with Gaza, as well as his handling of the economy and other key issues.
Netanyahu has been in power since 2009, and has faced mounting challenges to his leadership in recent years. He has been accused of corruption and has faced criticism for his handling of key issues, including the conflict with Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
The Shas party’s decision to quit the government is also seen as a significant blow to Netanyahu’s political allies, including the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) party, which has been a key partner in the government. The UTJ party, which represents the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, has also been critical of Netanyahu’s handling of key issues and has faced criticism for its own role in the government.
The development comes at a sensitive time for Israel, with tensions between Israel and the Gaza Strip still running high. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians and has caused significant damage to infrastructure and property.
The Shas party’s decision to quit the government is also seen as a significant blow to Netanyahu’s plans to pass legislation that would further restrict the rights of Palestinians in Israel. The party has been a key player in the government and has been instrumental in pushing through legislation that has been criticized by human rights groups.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said that the decision to quit the government was a “grave mistake” and that the party would be “responsible for the consequences.” The statement also accused the Shas party of being “unreasonable” and of “playing politics” with the government.
The Shas party’s decision to quit the government is seen as a significant blow to Netanyahu’s leadership, and increases the likelihood of early elections. The development is also seen as a significant challenge for Netanyahu’s political allies, who are facing criticism for their role in the government.
