The government on Monday suffered a double blow that could impact its future and potentially lead to early elections.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The first setback came when the coalition failed to pass a bill Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar defined as critical to the government's survival: The provisions of the Emergency Regulations – Judea and Samaria, Jurisdiction and Legal Aid Law, enacted in 1967, are due to expire at the end of June. Sa'ar moved for their extension, but the bill was defeated in a vote of 58 against and 52 in favor.
This could spell legal chaos for some 500,000 settlers living in the area.
The vote was seen as a key test of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government's future prospects and highlighted the paradoxical situation where some of the settlements' biggest opponents in the government voted for the bill, while hardline parties that support the settlements voted against it in order to weaken the government.
The vote did not immediately topple the government, and it is still possible for the coalition to present a modified version of the legislation.
"As always after we lose, we will return stronger and win in the next round," Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted after the vote.
It is unclear how Sa'ar will react. The justice minister, who heads the New Hope party, has already threatened to bolt the coalition if the bill didn't pass. If New Hope exits the government, it could give the opposition the votes it needs to trigger new elections or form a new government.
"Any coalition member who doesn't vote for this law that is so central is an active participant in its demise," Sa'ar, warned before the vote.
The opposition, made up mainly of nationalist parties led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, showed its willingness to forsake its pro-settlement ideology in order to bring down the coalition.
Bennett's Yamina party issued a statement accusing Netanyahu and his Likud party of banding together with leftist settlement opponents to serve the former prime minister's personal interests.
"The Likud will burn the state for Netanyahu's needs," it said, vowing to find a way to pass the required legislation.
Likud MK Yariv Levin welcomed the result of the vote, saying, "We are one step closer to the end of the failed left-wing government. A government that is unable to pass basic Zionist and security laws has no right to exist."
Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich said, "Tonight it has once again been proven that this government relies on anti-Zionist elements and it cannot take care of the most basic values and needs of Israeli citizens. This government has no right to exist."
The Likud issued a statement saying, "Bennett – go home. It's over. It's time to bring Israel back to the right."
Later on Monday evening, the coalition suffered another defeat when it failed to ratify MK Matan Kahana's appointment as religious services minister.
Kahana served as religious services minister until last month, when he resigned his post so as to return to parliament to serve as a Yamina MK, in a bid to bolster the coalition, which was faced with losing Yamina MK Yomtob Kalfon. That crisis was resolved and Bennett sought to reinstate Kahana as a minister but met with unexpected opposition.
The vote on the appointment ended with a 55-55 tie. Former coalition whip MK Idit Silman voted against the appointment, thus risking being expelled from Yamina.
In response, Kahana wrote on his Twitter account, "Just a light blow."
He later blasted Silman, saying she "proved with her actions that she does not see herself as part of the Yamina faction, and I believe there will be consequences in the future."
Silman could face immediate punitive steps, including her removal as head of the Knesset Health Committee and having the Knesset House Committee formally declare her a rogue MK.
The latter would preclude her from vying for a seat in the next Knesset elections with any other party, or being appointed a minister in the current Knesset if a new government is formed by the opposition.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
