After the clashes on the Temple Mount, the Arab Raam party suspended its participation in the governing coalition.
Prime Minister Bennett still has a few weeks to defuse the crisis.
The recent violence on the Temple Mount threatens the stability of the Israeli government. The Arab party Raam said it was suspending its participation in Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s coalition.
According to media reports, the party was reacting to pressure from its own ranks to resign from the government because of the actions of the Israeli police on the Temple Mount. Because Parliament is still in session until May 8th, the decision has no practical effects for the time being.
Coalition without a majority
Prime Minister Bennett is trying to calm the situation, according to media reports. If he fails and the Raam party leaves the coalition, the opposition could initiate a vote of no confidence in him. His eight-party coalition had already lost its wafer-thin majority in parliament about two weeks ago. A deputy from Bennett’s Jamina party had surprisingly left the coalition. The occasion was a dispute over religious matters.
Bennett’s government was sworn in in mid-June last year. The long-term political crisis in Israel, with four elections within two years, thus came to an end for the time being. The coalition includes a total of eight parties from the right to the left – including Raam, an Arab party for the first time.
Many injured on the Temple Mount
There were clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Friday and Sunday. According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, around 160 Palestinians were injured. Several Israeli police officers were also injured.
The Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. But it is also sacred to Jews because there used to be two Jewish temples there. The Temple Mount is under Muslim administration while Israel is responsible for security. According to an agreement with the Muslim authorities, Jews can visit the facility but not pray there.
The Palestinians accuse Israel of wanting to expand its control of the holy site. Israel, on the other hand, emphasizes that it wants to guarantee the freedom of all religions. This year, the Muslim month of fasting, Ramadan, coincides with Easter and the Jewish festival of Passover.
