With the announced resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman from the cabinet on Wednesday, 6 Kislev, and the resignation of Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu party from the coalition government, the coalition is left with a one-seat majority, a coalition of 61.

The coalition now includes the Likud (30), Kulanu (10), Bayit Yehudi (8), Yahadut Hatorah (6) and Shas (7) parties.

Lieberman’s announced was followed by an announcement from MK (Bayit Yehudi) Shuli Muallem, who stated the senior portfolio must now be given to Naftali Bennet, the party leader, who she assured us is more than qualified for the post as he was an officer in the elite Sayeret Matkal unit. Muallem made it clear, that Bayit Yehudi is not asking for the appointment but made it a condition for the party’s continuation in the coalition.

At present, with Yisrael Beitenu’s resignation, there is increasing pressure on Bayit Yehudi to follow suit since Bennet repeatedly boasts Bayit Yehudi is the only true right-wing party in Knesset. The government’s actions vis-à-vis Hamas in Gaza left many feeling the residents of Southern Israel have been betrayed, sold out by their own country, and with Lieberman leading the way, they are asking how Bennet can remain in the coalition. On the other hand, if Bennet follows Lieberman’s lead, it is Bayit Yehudi and not Yisrael Beitenu which will destroy the coalition, which is not likely to assist Bayit Yehudi at the polls in the next Knesset elections.

During the past months, Lieberman has been a lone voice in the cabinet calling for a military response to Hamas attacks, and this last round of warfare was the limit for him. In addition, he remained firm in the eye of most non-chareidi voters regarding the draft law, emphasizing he will not compromise in the slightest, unwilling to accept a new version which is deemed acceptable by the chareidi parties.

Lieberman’s resignation will go into effect 48 hours after he submits his letter of resignation. There is no doubt that a new defense minister must be appointment as the security situation vis-à-vis the northern and southern borders, Iran, and other threats, demand a minister in the post. That said, if PM Netanyahu opts to take the post for himself, others before him have set the precedent, including Yitzchak Rabin and David Ben-Gurion for example. However, in this case, Mr. Netanyahu is also Foreign Minister and most agree, holding all three senior cabinet posts would be a bit much, event for Bibi.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)