Following the celebratory statements on the impressive achievement of passing a state budget, a minor issue that has been completely blown out of proportion, and a promise from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and his senior cabinet members that now the coalition would get to work, a government meeting was held that served to remind all Israelis of the prospects for this government's promises. Seven of the 12 members of the Ministerial Legislation Committee that attended the meeting – Chairman Gideon Sa'ar, Ze'ev Elkin, Yoaz Handel, and Yifat Shasha-Biton of New Hope, Yamina's Matan Kahana and Ayelet Shaked, and Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Lieberman, and in this instance, we can add Blue and White's Pnina Tamano-Shata and Meirav Cohen – attended this meeting. All the aforementioned ministers should have authorized legislation to regulate settlements in Judea and Samaria, a subject they and Bennett, who said a government under his leadership would authorize fledgling settlements at the first government meeting he headed as premier, had promised to support.
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Of course, this did not happen at either the first government meeting or the one that followed. On Sunday, despite having a clear majority for the move, the ministers chose to soften the proposal and not to authorize it. On Wednesday, when opposition members vote in favor of fledgling settlements, coalition members, including those from the Right, will oppose the move, not because they lack the necessary majority but rather a lack of will and a lack of interest in a confrontation with some on the Left, and the Ra'am party – which appears to have the final say on many matters – in particular.
To go by what we are told at countless press conferences, the government is working for citizens, pushing the country forward, and freeing Israel from continued political stagnation.
The reality however is slightly different, if not the polar opposite. The growing political crisis has resulted in an unprecedented government of paralysis that includes radical components that need to be placated at every turn.
Yes, government ministries did receive the funds necessary to consolidate plans and realize the vision of the ministers in charge. Many, however, will need to suffice with a lean budget due to budget cuts and the need to put significant amounts of money aside for political purposes, including huge sums of money for the Arab sector as set out in the coalition agreement with Ra'am.
It is not just extreme ideological rifts, but the weak and unstable government majority that will make it difficult for the coalition to achieve its objectives.
As soon as either the Right or Left decides to unilaterally support personal legislation and cease to maintain coalitionary discipline, the brawling will begin. We could see a legislative war that results in a total loss of control as all sides look to pull the government in their direction, just as they have done when the state budget was on the table.
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