Netanyahu's Coalition Government Faces Crisis Following Resignation of Religious Party

Following the remarks of Yaakov Litzman, Israel's Minister of Health, regarding the resignation of his religious party from the coalition government, Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a crisis in his government. According to Israeli media, Mr. Litzman, leader of the religious party "Torah Judaism," announced on Friday, December 3, that he and his party would exit the government on Sunday, December 5, unless the government halted construction work on the metro in Tel Aviv during "Shabbat" (which is sacred for religious Jews). The Ministry of Housing and Construction, in collaboration with the Tel Aviv municipality, has continued the metro project during "Shabbat" in recent months to expedite the project and reduce heavy traffic during the week when hundreds of thousands from other cities commute to Tel Aviv for work. Israel Katz, the Minister of Housing, proposed a compromise that Jews would not work on the metro construction during "Shabbat," and only non-Jewish technical staff would be employed on that day. Israeli media reported that Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in long discussions with Mr. Litzman on Thursday and Friday, but the "Torah Judaism" party announced it would exit the coalition government. Meanwhile, according to the "Wynet" website, Mr. Netanyahu expressed hope that Yaakov Litzman would retract his threat. The current Israeli government, in power since the March 2015 elections, is the result of a coalition between the ruling Likud party and the religious parties "Jewish Home," "Torah Judaism," "Shas," as well as the right-wing party "Israel Our Home," led by Avigdor Lieberman, and the "Kulanu" party led by Moshe Kahlon, the Minister of Finance. The Torah Judaism party represents the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are of European descent, and holds six seats in the Knesset. The exit of this party from the coalition weakens the foundation of the government. According to Wynet, the religious party "Shas," led by Aryeh Deri, is under pressure to remain in the coalition following the exit of the "Torah Judaism" party, although the report did not specify the reasons for this situation. Meanwhile, leaders of other allied parties announced in an emergency meeting on Friday that they do not intend to withdraw from Netanyahu's coalition government. The crisis in the government has arisen amid ongoing police investigations into Benjamin Netanyahu and numerous former senior officials from his office, as well as David Shimron, Netanyahu's cousin and personal attorney, over corruption allegations. Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "confidence" this week after the sixth police interrogation session, asserting that he had not committed any wrongdoing by receiving gifts from his wealthy business friends. Netanyahu tweeted, "Nothing will happen; because there is nothing to the matter." However, a former Israeli prosecutor stated on Thursday, December 2, that if the case of receiving illegal gifts leads to an indictment against Netanyahu, he must resign. Meanwhile, extensive police investigations into the purchase of German submarines for the Israeli army have brought close associates of Benjamin Netanyahu in for questioning, although the prosecutor has stated that no charges have been brought against Netanyahu in this case. However, Yair Lapid, leader of the opposition party "Yesh Atid," recently stated, "It is impossible for Netanyahu to remain untouched while his closest associates are being interrogated in the submarine case." Senior executives from the German company ThyssenKrupp, the manufacturer of the submarines, announced on Thursday that if the Israeli police investigations into corruption allegations against some officials prove true, ThyssenKrupp would consider canceling the deal with Israel. Nevertheless, polls indicate that Netanyahu still enjoys the highest popularity among the Israeli public for the premiership.