Naphtali Bennett is feeling the heat. It seems like every few weeks a new crisis grips the Israeli government, and the country wades through another round of political turbulence. The Bennett cabinet governs from a fragile minority, and the shadow of a fifth election looms over Israeli politics. The prospect of Benjamin Netanyahu returning to power adds to the pressure as Bennett tries to steady his fragile coalition against relentless domestic demands.
On May 19, Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi, a member of parliament for the Palestinian Community of Israel, left the coalition. Alarms sounded again as critics argued the government was failing to improve conditions for a community that makes up about 21 percent of the population. For days the opposition pressed the majority, and after tense discussions and mounting pleas from party colleagues, Meretz announced that Zoabi was reversing her position under what she described as intense international pressure. Local Arab councils expressed relief, while others warned there was little time to breathe.
Yet stability remained tenuous. The prime minister’s principal aide announced his resignation, followed ten days later by another adviser stepping away from the narrow political circle surrounding Bennett. These departures hit at a moment when the government was already walking a tightrope after a year in power. Many analysts now question whether the cabinet’s multi-party coalition can hold through mounting challenges. The core issue remains the coalition’s diverse ideological makeup, united mainly by opposition to Netanyahu.
walking to jerusalem
Jerusalem has again become the centerpiece of policy debates within the executive. A planned ultra-nationalist Jewish march in the Old City this Sunday revived old anxieties. The event echoes last year’s tensions that sparked rocket fire from Gaza and calls that inflamed sectarian anger. The eleven-day conflict last year claimed more than 250 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, leaving a lasting scar on the city’s politics.
Leaders warned against any provocation that could spark a religious clash or wider regional tension. Ram Ben Barak, chair of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, urged restraint after the route was approved. He spoke to radio listeners about the risks of escalation. Unlike last year, thousands of ultranationalists will again parade through the country, including the Muslim quarter of the Old City. Hamas and Islamic Jihad have signaled concern about possible repercussions if tensions flare again.
tension with justice
A climactic decision by the Supreme Court and the Jerusalem Magistrates Court strained the relationship between the government and the judiciary. The court lifted a restraining order against three Jews who prayed near Masjid al-Aqsa, a location sacred to both Muslims and Jews but restricted for Jewish prayer by the terms of an agreement with Muslim authorities. The ruling prompted strong reactions from religious and political leaders across Palestine, Jordan, and beyond.
The prime minister’s office said it would appeal, stressing that the status quo at the Temple Mount would not change. A tense spring in the holy city followed, with clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian demonstrators. The death of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh and the resulting unrest intensified the pressures on Bennett’s coalition, highlighting the fragility of cross-community governance at a critical moment.
Netanyahu on the prowl
Ahead lies a high-stakes visit from U.S. President Joe Biden, anticipated for late June or early July. The evolving dynamics of recent weeks complicate whether Bennett can welcome Washington’s top diplomat as planned. Rinawie Zoabi’s return to the coalition blocked a parliamentary vote that would have dissolved the Knesset. Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history and leader of the opposition since last year, continues to push for a change in government.
In public remarks, Bennett faced criticism from opponents who described the current cabinet as unable to secure stability. For now, Bennett’s government endures, awaiting a crucial congressional year when the budget for 2023 must be approved by a 61-vote majority. Until then, the administration works to steady a coalition built from varied political currents and navigating stubborn hurdles on multiple fronts.