Politics

Housing and Construction Minister Ze'ev Elkin, the man widely believed to be the brains behind the coalition's formation, is looking quit the government and serve as Jewish Agency chairman.

Government shaken over its failure to pass a bill giving Israel legal jurisdiction over settlers in Judea and Samaria, then suffers a second blow after it fails to ratify the appointment of the religious services minister.

Sa'ar has threatened to topple the government unless the bill, opposed by Ra'am and Meretz on the grounds they say it would result in the default annexation of Judea and Samaria, passes the Knesset.

Bill proposed by MK Eli Cohen included outlawing the Palestinian flag. "The hypocrisy and incitement coming from a portion of the Arabs of Israel must be stopped," Cohen asserts.

"For 55 years, we have ruled, contrary to our own morals, justice, and both our and their interests, another people," coalition member Meretz MK Moshe Raz says in a statement ahead of the meeting.

Welcoming her return to the coalition, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said he and Zoabi had "held an open, candid and circumspect dialogue about the real needs of Arab society."

A survey by Tel Aviv-based Radio 103FM predicts the right-wing bloc could secure 60 Knesset seats, just shy of the minimal 61-MK majority needed to ascend to power. PM Bennett's Yamina's position unchanged with six seats; Meretz would fail to cross the electoral threshold.

While the former coalition member appears likely to follow in Idit Silman's footsteps and continue to vote along party lines, the assessment is her resignation was largely aimed at ensuring her appointment as Israel's consul in Shanghai.

“Enough. I cannot continue to support a coalition that in such a shameful way hounds the society from which I came,” MK writes.