The resignation of Coalition Chairwoman and Yamina MK Idit Silman from the government Wednesday sent ripples through the political system, with the Bennett-Lapid government trying to salvage the coalition and the opposition garnering support among lawmakers to establish a potential future coalition of their own.
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Leader of the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox Shas party Aryeh Deri told Israel Hayom he was not surprised to hear of Silman's resignation as "talks over the matter had been conducted for several days."
According to media reports, following her resignation, Silman is reportedly set to join the Likud party and take on the role of health minister in a potential future coalition government.
"Any price we have to pay to topple this evil government is worth it," Deri said. "Silman has taken a brave step … Our sister, welcome back home. She has a respectable place in our coalition. And there is room for others who will join. We will all make concessions and cut back on our governmental positions."
Deri also said others might follow in Silman's footsteps.
"I will not mention any names. We find ourselves in an ever-changing situation and I hope that it will come to a good end," he said, expressing hope for a Knesset majority.
The Shas leader said his party was even willing to work with Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman, despite a previous conflict that stemmed from Lieberman's plans to cut childcare subsidies in a way that would primarily affect ultra-Orthodox fathers who opt for full-time yeshiva over integrating into the workforce. Deri resigned from the Knesset in January after pleading guilty to tax offenses as part of a plea bargain.
Two more potential lawmakers to join the opposition are MKs Abir Kara (Yamina) and Sharren Haskel (New Hope). The two have already begun talks with regard to the matter, but according to Silman, have not yet come to a significant conclusion. Both lawmakers have presented a list of requirements in order to go through with the change.
The opposition has also tried to get MK Nir Orbach (Yamina) to join them, due to his close ties with the Religious Zionist Party, but to their surprise, he remains steadfast in remaining in the current government, perhaps out of a commitment to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who had brought Orbach into Yamina after he lost the election for head of Habayit Hayehudi.
Likud is also in touch with Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, Education Minister Yifat Shasha-Biton, Housing Minister Ze'ev Elkin, and Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel, although the chances of these high-ranking ministers joining the opposition are slim.
Neither side of the political divide will be able to function without the support of Arab lawmakers.
Similarly, Bennett refrained from publicly criticizing Silman Wednesday, saying she had been "persecuted and verbally harassed" by supporters of the Likud and the Religious Zionist party "for months."
Following an emergency meeting of his Yamina faction, he said "the main thing we need to currently be dealing with is the stability of the faction and the coalition. I spoke with all of the party leaders. Everyone wants to continue with this government. This government is working on behalf of the citizens of the country."
Nevertheless, some lawmakers were pessimistic about the coalition's ability to survive, saying Israel might be headed toward another election as early as September.
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