Yamina MK Idit Silman used her political power in precisely the opposite way it is intended. Left-wing parties in the coalition bark and do not bite, scaring the esoteric Right in the government and sometimes causing them to forget where they came from: They do not dare to build or even pave roads in the settlements. They are scared to plant trees in the Negev, are afraid to call the West Bank by its traditional name, and are scared to appoint conservative justices to the courts out of fear they could topple the government.
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The Right should have controlled the unfolding events because more than the Left hates the Trans-Samaria Highway, it despises Likud party members. Had the former coalition chairwoman sought to realize her power, she could have ensured it was felt at a number of crossroads: She could have bent arms to ensure construction plans were carried out in Judea and Samaria, she could have acted to prevent Defense Minister Benny Gantz from issuing huge loans to the Palestinian Authority, the likes of which will serve as grants to the murderers of Israeli citizens and will clearly never be paid back, and she could have put an end to coalition mingling to prevent plans to develop roads on the outskirts of the Green Line being stalled.
But to use the law against the entry of chametz or unleavened goods and bread from hospitals and Jewish identity to quit the coalition? Are Terrorist attacks in Bnei Brak less important than chametz? The bottom line is that Silman may have just ensured Foreign Minister Yair Lapid takes on the role of premier ahead of schedule.
It may be that an Arab lawmaker takes Silman's 61st spot in the coalition, and then her fellow Yamina MK Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked will resign and bring down the government. But will Shaked also be assured a top spot on the Likud party list?
A word of advice to the spouses of politicians: Do not interfere in your partner's career. Do not give interviews on the radio and not say your spouse's political party if a party of liars. You can whisper that in their ears in bed or shout it at them in the kitchen, but this norm of intervening in public life when your partner is a political figure cannot continue.
And you, representatives of the public, if you cannot maintain a public career without having someone, your spouse for example, back you up, then perhaps politics is not the field for you.
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