The Knesset will vote today on four no-confidence motions, which the opposition is hoping will bring the government down. The Likud-led government has barely survived two recent no-confidence votes in the past two weeks by majorities of just one or two MKs.
The National Union MKs are deliberating this afternoon as to whether to vote against the government, as MKs Eldad and Ariel suggest, or to absent themselves from the vote. Party officials have long implied that they will remain in the government only if the Prime Minister stops promoting his unilateral withdrawal and expulsion plan. Today's decision does not affect the party's two ministers, neither of whom will vote this afternoon: Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman is not a Knesset Member, and Tourism Minister Benny Elon is abroad.
The MKs of the National Religious Party are also deliberating the same question this afternoon, and for the same reasons. Leading rabbis such as Haifa's Rabbi She'ar-Yashuv Cohen, Rabbi Shlomo Aviner and Rabbi Yuval Cherlow were invited to today's faction meeting. Party leader Housing Minister Effie Eitam said today that the crisis between his party and the Prime Minister continues to get worse as time passes.
The National Union MKs are deliberating this afternoon as to whether to vote against the government, as MKs Eldad and Ariel suggest, or to absent themselves from the vote. Party officials have long implied that they will remain in the government only if the Prime Minister stops promoting his unilateral withdrawal and expulsion plan. Today's decision does not affect the party's two ministers, neither of whom will vote this afternoon: Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman is not a Knesset Member, and Tourism Minister Benny Elon is abroad.
The MKs of the National Religious Party are also deliberating the same question this afternoon, and for the same reasons. Leading rabbis such as Haifa's Rabbi She'ar-Yashuv Cohen, Rabbi Shlomo Aviner and Rabbi Yuval Cherlow were invited to today's faction meeting. Party leader Housing Minister Effie Eitam said today that the crisis between his party and the Prime Minister continues to get worse as time passes.