Prime Minister Ehud Olmert received a vote of confidence Tuesday from an unlikely source: Israel's Arab legislators.
The Arab Knesset factions decided to vote together to block the dissolution of the Knesset, hoping to avoid the rise of pro-Land of Israel parties such as the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home).
"We don't work for [Likud party chairman Binyamin] Netanyahu and [Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman Avigdor] Lieberman," said Balad party chairman and MK Jamal Zahalka, himself known for his extremist activities.
"We have no interest in helping them, and they would be the sole benefactors if the Knesset is dissolved – and therefore Balad will not support this motion," he added.
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Listen to the above phone interview as MK Zahalka explains why the Arab lawmakers are supporting Prime Minister Olmert while his coalition is tottering.
A motion on whether or not to disband the government will be brought to the floor of the Knesset for a preliminary vote on June 25 by Likud Knesset Member Silvan Shalom. The Sephardic religious Shas party and the Labor party have decided to support the Likud's push to dissolve the government.
"Prime ministers have always been under investigation," added MK Talab El-Sana, head of the United Arab List – Ta'al, in an interview with Ynet. "I don't recall that the Right was quite so adamant about dissolving the Knesset when Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was being investigated."