Meretz MK announces return to coalition: ‘The alternative is worse’

Alongside Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and Nazareth Mayor Ali Salam, Meretz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi announces she will return to the coalition.

“Because I arrived to serve the local authorities and to achieve accomplishments for the needs of the Arab public, I will support the coalition,” says Zoabi in a joint video announcement.

Zoabi says she realizes that “the alternative to this government will be [far-right MK Itamar] Ben-Gvir as a minister, and I want to prevent that alternative.”

Lapid says he welcomes Zoabi’s return to the coalition after “we had an open dialogue” and discussed the needs of the Arabic community. “We have put this disagreement behind us and we are returning to government work.”

Zoabi’s announcement last week that she would depart the government put the coalition in the minority; with her return, the opposition/coalition breakdown returns to 60-60.