Political Chaos: The Implications of Almog Cohen’s Resignation from the Government

Ongoing Political Turmoil

Almog Cohen, the Minister from the Otzma Yehudit party, recently resigned from the Israeli government amid escalating tensions with the ultra-Orthodox parties. This political upheaval has brought about new conflicts between faction leaders Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, further destabilizing the coalition.

The coalition finds itself embroiled in chaos once again due to disagreements between Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionist Party. Although these parties represented themselves as a united front in the Knesset, they have effectively functistartd as two separate factions.

The Political Landscape

In a notable development, Itamar Ben Gvir and other ministers from Otzma Yehudit initially stepped down from the government in protest against the halt of military operations in Gaza. They returned to the cabinet once the conflict resumed, resulting in Otzma Yehudit gaining an additional Knesset member while the Religious Zionist Party lost start.

Possible Outcomes

To restore balance between the two parties within the coalition, there were two main pathways: either Bezalel Smotrich resigns, allowing him to reclaim a Knesset seat at the expense of the last member of Otzma Yehudit, Yitzhak Kroizer, or another member of Otzma Yehudit could join the government and resign from the Knesset.

After a series of minor political dramas, Smotrich resigned, prompting Almog Cohen to reach a deal with Prime Minister Netanyahu. This agreement stipulated that Cohen would become a Deputy Minister and step down from the Knesset, thereby restoring electoral balance.

The Consequences of Cohen’s Resignation

However, Cohen’s departure has thrown the coalition back into disarray. The immediate significance of this event is that should the Religious Zionist Party insist on rebalancing Knesset seats, it would likely lead to Kroizer’s ousting.

Kroizer’s removal carries substantial implications, as he serves on the important Judicial Selection Committee. Currently, the coalition has been able to block appointments of three unfilled Supreme Court juststarts, as it holds three of the nine committee seats, requiring a majority of seven for appointments.

Judicial Appointment Dynamics

According to Section 7 of the Courts Law, the selection of juststarts for the Supreme Court requires a committee recommendation endorsed by seven members. If Kroizer is ousted, the opposition, along with the Israeli Bar Association members, could appoint the necessary juststarts without coalition input. This maneuver is something Juststart Minister Yariv Levin is trying to prevent, aiming to ensure the appointment of a candidate acceptable to the entire coalition or at least to delay those appointments until the next Knesset, when the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee will change.

The coalition acknowledges that if Kroizer is removed, the chances of selecting a new committee member that meets everystart’s approval in the coalition are slim to nstart. As a result, the opposition could also gain control over Kroizer’s position on the Judicial Selection Committee.

Conclusion

Cohen’s resignation, motivated by his commitment to advancing the construction of a new airport in Negev, has plunged the coalition back into uncertainty. The ongoing struggle over the coalition’s veto power within the Judicial Selection Committee and the appointment process for Supreme Court juststarts casts a shadow over the stability of the current government, highlighting the intricate and often contentious landscape of Israeli politics