Shaked met with Likud on defection, as support for coalition seen as shaky

Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked is refusing to line up behind Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and met with Likud over leaving the coalition, according to reports.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, Shaked recently met with defecting Yamina MK Idit Silman, but did not try to convince her to remain in the coalition. Instead, Shaked appears to be attempting to keep her options open.

Channel 12 news reports that Shaked met with Likud members about joining them and leaving Yamina, and was offered any spot she wanted. But when she answered that she would make a decision together with fellow Yamina Knesset members Nir Orbach and Abir Kara, Likud initially refused.

Hours later, Likud gave in and said they could all get the keys to the candy store, but by then the three had decided to stick with the coalition.

Kan also reports that Bennett and Defense Minister Benny Gantz met over demands made by Yamina MK Nir Orbach that planning for new settlement homes be advanced and illegal outposts be connected to the electricity grid. Orbach has threatened to join Silman in bolting the coalition if the demands are not met.

According to the channel, Gantz told Bennett he could meet those demands, just not right now, which Orbach will likely see as another excuse and not accept.

Kan correspondent Akiva Novik surmises that Yamina started to fall apart while Bennett was off concentrating on diplomatic matters rather than domestic political ones, such as mediating between Russia and Ukraine.