Israel’s coalition government loses majority as chair resigns
'I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Another government can be formed in this Knesset'
Israel's coalition government lost its parliamentary majority on Wednesday after its chair, Knesset lawmaker Idit Silman, announced that she is resigning from the alliance.
Silman, a politician within Israel’s right-wing Yamina party, cited moves to damage Israel’s “Jewish identity” as a reason for her departure from the coalition.
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1511553911706066950
This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking .
“I will not abet the harming of the Jewish identity of the State of Israel and the people of Israel. I will continue to try to persuade my friends to return home and form a right-wing government,” Silman said in a statement.
“I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Another government can be formed in this Knesset.”
On Sunday, the coalition faced an internal dispute after Silman criticized Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz over his intention to allow chametz - products containing flour which are forbidden during the Jewish holiday of Passover - in Israel’s hospitals.
Silman denounced the move as “a personal injury” to members of the coalition.
“The people of Israel have certain values that entire generations have killed themselves on, and we in the current government will not be part of their overthrow and we must respect the public,” she said.
Should another member of the ruling coalition resign, Israel’s government will fall apart and the country will hold another round of elections.