Cracks in Israel’s fragile coalition

Naftali Bennett’s eight-party coalition includes the far left, centrists, his own right-wing Yamina party, and for the first time in the Jewish state’s history, an Arab Islamic party, United Arab List


Mediterranean Sea
Homesh 
ISRAEL
Tel Aviv
Jerusalem
WEST BANK
JORDAN
NEGEV
GAZA STRIP
EGYPT
80km 50 miles


10km 6 miles
WEST BANK 
Dead Sea
Beersheba
Arad
NEGEV
Dimona
Negev triangle: Estimated 200,000-230,000 Bedouins live in unrecognized villages in Negev


Jan 10-16, Negev: Israeli forces crack down on protests against government-sanctioned tree-planting on land claimed by Palestinian Bedouins. Palestinians see forestation as land-grab

Jan 12: United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas boycotts cooperation with coalition over tree-planting. Coalition needs UAL’s four votes to retain their one-member majority of 61 in 120-seat Knesset

Dec 29: Benny Gantz, Defence Minister and leader of centrist Blue and White party is condemned by coalition’s right-wing New Hope party after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Gantz announces measures to boost West Bank economy

Jan 6: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett condemns coalition’s Meretz member, Yair Golan, for referring to settlers at Homesh as “subhuman.” Golan’s words follow reports that settlers have desecrated Palestinian graves, vandalized property and burnt Palestinian flags

Jan 3: Foreign Minister Yair Lapid says that contrary to PM Bennett, he is prepared to meet with PA leader Abbas


Sources: Reuters, Stratfor, Washington Institute 
Pictures: Getty Images
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