Culture minister warns coalition falling apart, blaming Ben Gvir

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar warns the coalition is crumbling from the inside and that right-wing parties were likely to be out of power for a long stretch if elections were held today.

“The disintegration of the coalition is unfolding before our eyes. Coalitions collapse from within. If there are elections, the chance for us to form a government is very low and we will be thrown into opposition for many years,” he tells the Kol Berama radio station.

Zohar says National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir would be responsible if early elections are called after his far-right Otzma Yehudit party tanked a Shas-backed amendment to the Religious Services Law on Monday, sparking a dispute between the two parties.

“This is an absurd and illogical situation. I expect people to come to their senses,” Zohar says.