An Israeli lawmaker quit the government's wafer-thin ruling coalition over a dispute about Passover matzo rules in hospitals on Wednesday, throwing the fragile alliance into disarray without a majority in parliament.
Backbencher Idit Silman's departure raises the possibility of new parliamentary elections less than a year after the government took office. While Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government remains in power, it is now hamstrung in the 120-seat parliament and will likely struggle to function.
But some members of Bennett's party have been uncomfortable with the Yamina's union with Islamist and liberal parties since the government's inception in June. One party member broke ranks rather than be part of it. She urged the prime minister "to acknowledge the truth: we tried. The time has come to think of a new course. To try to form a nationalist, Jewish, Zionist government."
"To friends still sitting in this coalition, I say: come home," Netanyahu said. "Join Idit Silman, join us, and together we will return Israel to the track of success, achievement, security and peace."