Bennett’s government loses majority in Israel parliament

JERUSALEM

The Israeli government on Wednesday lost its parliamentary majority after the withdrawal of lawmaker Idit Silman from the fragile coalition.

With Silman’s withdrawal, the ruling coalition is left in a position of neck-and-neck with the opposition headed by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 60 parliamentary seats for both camps.

The current coalition government is formed by several Israeli right-wing, centrist and left-wing parties with 61 members backing the government of the 120-member parliament.

According to the Jerusalem Post newspaper, Silman, a member of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's Yamina Party, said she "could not continue undermining the Jewish identity of the State of Israel" -- in reference to her disagreement with Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz on allowing the distribution of Chametz - bread - in hospitals, which is prohibited during the Jewish Passover holiday.

According to the KAN news channel, Silman agreed with Netanyahu's bloc to have the tenth seat in Netanyahu's election list in case there are polls.

KAN said another lawmaker from Bennett's Yamina Party, Nir Orbach, may also withdraw from the coalition.

According to the Jerusalem Post, if the opposition bloc secures parliamentary majority, they would be able to form a government without going to elections.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar