Israel Matzav

Guess who's threatening to leave the coalition

Officials in Yesh Atid confirmed a Channel 10 report that past commitments Lapid made to remove his party from the coalition if there are no peace talks applied to the situation that could arise in upcoming days. The officials said the threat to leave was serious but not immediate.

"It is not as if we will leave the day after talks break down," a Yesh Atid official said.

Netanyahu's coalition is facing threats from Yesh Atid and Hatnua on the Left if negotiations with the Palestinians end and from Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett if Israeli Arab prisoners are released in a deal to extend the talks.

But Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman downplayed Bennett's threats Tuesday at a press briefing with his Austrian counterpart, Sebastian Kurz.

"There is no chance Bayit Yehudi will quit the coalition," Liberman said. "Dont take Bennett's threats too seriously."

Labels: Avigdor Lieberman, Binyamin Netanyahu, coalition government, Tzipi Livni, Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid party

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:53 PM