Meretz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi appears to be a person with principles, similar to her Yamina colleague MK Idit Silman. When she found herself in the Knesset for the first time a few months ago, Zoabi most likely couldn't have imagined she would be a member of a coalition headed by one of the country's most right-wing politicians. She didn't expect to have to compromise on her principles, almost on a daily basis.
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The straw that broke the camel's back, in her words, was the image of police officers clashing with Shireen Abu Akleh's coffin bearers.
Zoabi struggled to come to terms with her coalitional responsibility for the complete diplomatic stagnancy, the decisions to expand construction in Judea and Samaria, the conduct of the security forces, and the very similar feelings to those of her fellow Meretz members that she harbored. They, however, made a very important and difficult strategic decision and she feels she can no longer be a part of it. She wants to shed all moral responsibility that will be foisted upon her for decisions that radically contradict her own views.
However, if the moral-ideological question is indeed what troubles her, she should have no dilemma regarding her political future. Very similar to Silman, she too must choose the simplest, most logical path – and hand in her resignation letter to the party chairman. As someone who did this twice during his decades in the Knesset, I can promise her it's not that difficult.
You can criticize her colleagues for not waking up in time, in light of her seemingly obvious grievances. One can argue against her that she was never a longtime party member, only "parachuted" into her senior position without more deeply identifying with Meretz and its principles. One can also wonder why she didn't inform the party chairman of her intention to abandon the coalition, choosing instead to catch him off guard.
Now, however, with all due respect to her considerations, she doesn't have a real dilemma on her hands. If Silman and Zoabi are women of honor, there's only one thing to do: Step aside so that someone who is willing to do what they are not, can take their place.
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