Netanyahu said to know in advance of Meretz MK's intention to leave coalition

Though coalition leaders were caught off guard by Meretz MK Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi’s surprise announcement today that she was quitting the coalition, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu learned in advance of the move, the Walla news site reports.

Citing opposition sources, the report says Rinawie Zoabi spoke in recent days with MK Yinon Azoulay of the opposition Shas party, whom she is close with, about her misgivings and considerations. Azoulay then told Shas leader Aryeh Deri, who in turn updated Netanyahu, according to the report.

Azoulay had reportedly tried on numerous past occasions to convince Rinawie Zoabi to pull her support for the government.