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Ultra-Orthodox instrumental in dissolution of Israel's government

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's decision to dissolve the Israeli Knesset and go for new elections could have perhaps been avoided, had he made more efforts to include the ultra-Orthodox in his coalition.

Aryeh Deri
Then-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with Aryeh Deri, head of Shas Party, during a right-wing parties meeting on Nov. 20, 2019 in Jerusalem. — Amir Levy/Getty Images

Coalition head Benjamin Netanyahu and his ultra-Orthodox allies did not hide their satisfaction today over Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's decision to dissolve the Knesset next week. In fact, analysts explained that it was because of the Likud’s intention to present a non-confidence vote on Wednesday that Bennett and Lapid decided what they did. They preferred to take action themselves and control the political developments over the humiliation of a non-confidence vote forced upon them by the opposition.

After the Bennett-Lapid statement, Netanyahu was quick to make a statement of his own, announcing he intends to establish a new government. Still, as abovementioned, there were other forces at work beside him.

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