Israel minister: Coalition is ‘flimsy’, elections are ‘closer’

Israeli Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, head of the Kulanu party, said today that with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government looking “flimsy”, elections were “closer”.

After former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned his position and withdrew his Yisrael Beiteinu party from the coalition, Netanyahu’s government was reduced to a 61-seat presence in the 120-member Knesset.

Such a narrow margin thus makes it extremely difficult for the government to get legislation passed.

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According to the report by Arutz Sheva, Kahlon told Israeli radio: “The 61-[seats] is the problem”, adding: “It will be difficult to pass other laws. Every controversial law will require that we reach an agreement.”

Under these circumstances, Kahlon argued, early elections appear to be in the offing.

“We’re getting closer to elections. Let’s be honest, the coalition is flimsy. I don’t want to topple the government, but we are here to act, not to just survive. A government that is struggling to survive isn’t getting anything done,” he stated.