Government being presented at president's residence
Government being presented at president's residenceScreenshot

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's fourth government may be narrow but it has the potential to last long, Professor Avi Diskin argued on Thursday. 

The Head of the Interdisciplinary School of Administration, Governance and Law at the Sha'arei Mishpat Academic Center, Diskin told Arutz Sheva that "narrow governments tend to have greater life spans."

"Even if there is a daily problem of mustering a majority, that does not mean the government is unstable," the Professor asserted.

"We have seen the coalition functioning successfully on the vote for amending the Basic Law on the number of ministers in the Cabinet as well as thwarting a no-confidence vote. Even if there are daily difficulties, they are not likely to affect the government's survival."

According to Diskin, the opposition members are also issuing empty threats by suggesting they will take down the government. 

"Also during the elections, there was an atmosphere in the media and the opposition that a change of government was coming. I said then there was no connection to reality; there if a difference between hope and an [imagined] picture of reality to the real rules of the game."

"It's true you can topple a government comprised of only 61 MKs, but I still say that this government is not any less stable," Diskin added. 

Despite analysts' suggestions Netanyahu would and should try to broaden his coalition, potentially by bringing back Yisrael Beytenu, Diskin recommended against this tactic. 

"I'm not sure a government of 67 with [Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor] Liberman would make the government any more stable," he asserted. 

"Imagine what it would be like Liberman threatening to resign and and making internal pacts with [Kulanu chairman Moshe] Kahlon - the Prime Minister's position would be much worse than today. Thus, Liberman in or out is now what will contribute to governability."

"We have to understand," Diskin concluded, "that while there is a small government, there is a greater ideological affinity between the partners and everyone knows toppling the government would be shooting themselves in the foot; it's suicide."

"In a narrow government, the compensation you receive for your participating is the maximum compensation."