Israel’s Likud Faces Internal Risks to Its Majority Coalition

Israel’s incoming far-right coalition government is set to include 61 seats out of 120, the narrowest possible majority. That puts Likud in the driver’s seat, if it can keep that majority.

But while they talk about trying to expand the coalition, the risks of losing this shallow majority are growing, with even the tiniest factions within Likud itself capable of imperiling the majority.

Likud MP Ayoob Kara, a Druze, is now demanding a ministry for himself, threatening “surprises” if he isn’t given something. This could easily mean a loss of a support for Prime Minister Netanyahu, and one he can ill afford.

Until the portfolios are finalized, expect more and more MPs to use their increased importance in a shallow majority to try to improve their own positions.