After the resignation of two senior ministers from the Israeli cabinet, the Yesh Atid Party has threatened to quit the coalition government because its says that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading more to the right, according to Israeli media reports.
The Times of Israel newspaper reported on Sunday that Israel’s Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ya’akov Peri told Israeli Radio that his party Yesh Atid, headed by Israeli Minister of Finance Yair Lapid, would likely soon decide whether to remain in the coalition government or not.
Peri reportedly criticised Netanyahu for “leaning increasingly to the right, apparently because of internal party considerations”, adding that as a result his party “may have to make a decision regarding staying in the government … Without a doubt, we will have to consider in the next few weeks where the wind is blowing, where things are headed.”
Yesh Atid currently has five ministers in the coalition government, which is dominated by right wing ministers, and holds 19 seats in the Knesset, making it the second largest party.
In addition to Peri and Lapid, the party’s ministers are: Minister of Education Shai Piron, Minister of Health Yael German and Minister of Welfare and Social Services Meir Cohen.
In recent weeks, Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz and Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar have resigned from the Israeli cabinet further deepening Israel’s political crisis.