Running the government with a majority of one is no small task and following the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party of six from the coalition, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has to do just that.

The opposition flexed its muscle on Monday, preventing the passing of an amendment to the Israel Lands Law from being passed into law. What was particularly painful to the coalition was that a deal was made in advance and it should have passed, and when it did not, the coalition yanked the remaining bills from the agenda rather than risk additional defeats.

The Israel Lands Law bill was defeated in a 47 to 42 vote and the cheers of opposition members were audible as they savored the victory and their new-found political power, leading to a bit of commotion following in the plenum and hallway the vote.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)