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Israel's ruling coalition loses Knesset majority

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shake hands after their meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Israel, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. On Wednesday Bennett's coalition lost the Knesset majority after the resignation of coalition chair Idit Silman. Pool Photo by Abir Sultan/UPI.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) shake hands after their meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Israel, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. On Wednesday Bennett's coalition lost the Knesset majority after the resignation of coalition chair Idit Silman. Pool Photo by Abir Sultan/UPI. | License Photo

April 6 (UPI) -- Israel's ruling coalition has lost the Knesset majority in a surprise move Wednesday by Idit Silman, the chairwoman of the Israeli government.

Silman resigned from the ruling coalition Wednesday morning, ending the current government coalition's 10-month majority.

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Silman was promised the role of health minister if Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud right-wing slate wins the next election.

The surprise resignation leaves the Blue and White Party coalition of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett with just 60 members of the Knesset.

According to Haaretz, the resignation came over the liberalization of some prayer rules at Jerusalem's Western Wall and allowing people to bring a non-kosher food into hospitals during Passover.

"Key values in my worldview are inconsistent with current reality," she wrote in a letter sent to Bennett. "I can no longer bear the damage to values that are our essence and right."

Former Prime Minister Netanyahu is on trial, charged criminally with fraud and breach of trust.

Israel's High Court ruled that despite facing criminal corruption charges, Netanyahu can still form a government and run for election. The trial has lasted two years so far.

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In a tweeted video, Netanyahu welcomed Silman's defection from the ruling coalition.

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