The measure is seen as a symbolic gesture and could be resolved until the Israeli Knesset meets again next month.
The United Arab List (UAL), also known as Raam, has suspended its participation in the coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, blaming its decision on days of violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
The party, whose supporters are mostly Palestinian citizens of Israel, a minority of about 21 percent of the estimated nine million people, is led by Mansour Abbas and was the first party to represent Palestinian citizens to join the Israeli government.
Bennett took office last June after diligent efforts to form a coalition government that overthrew Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. He did so by creating a 61-seat majority as a razor in the 120-seat Knesset.
But the Bennett government lost that majority earlier this month when a far-right Knesset member resigned over a government decision to allow the distribution of leavened bread in hospitals during Easter, in line with a recent Supreme Court ruling overturning years of banning practice.
Bennett’s coalition – a mix of left-wing, hardline Jewish nationalist and religious parties, as well as the UAL – has deep ideological divisions and now has only 60 seats in parliament – the same as the opposition.
On Sunday night, the UAL – which has four seats in Bennett’s coalition – said it was “suspending” its support and freezing its parliamentary activities.
“If the government continues to take action against the people of Jerusalem … we will resign as a bloc,” a statement from UAL said.
The announcement comes two days after Israeli forces attacked the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Jerusalem, injuring at least 150 people and arresting dozens.
The withdrawal of the UAL from the Bennett administration will not immediately affect the government, as the Knesset is on pause until May 8.
The Israeli daily Haaretz said the UAL measure was coordinated with Bennett and Foreign Minister Jair Lapid and was designed to allow UAL supporters to “let off steam” but avoid actually leaving the ruling coalition.
Some political commentators said the announcement was a symbolic gesture to remove pressure on UAL party leaders during the crisis, and the dispute could be resolved until parliament reunites next month.
The UAL Shura Council, an advisory body of religious leaders, is expected to meet again two weeks after the end of Ramadan.
Sources say Bennett will now seek to calm the situation with the UAL, and although his coalition can rule with 60 seats, it will have difficulty passing new legislation.
If another member leaves the governing coalition, the Knesset could call for a no-confidence vote, which could return Israel to the fifth parliamentary election in four years.
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