Coalition Politics

"In Israel’s 52-year history, there have been countless coalition crises. But in only two cases – in 1977 and 1999 – did a government fall and the opposition take power as a result of a coalition dispute. Such battles usually result from smaller parties’ attempts to intimidate a prime minister by saying, "Give us what we want or we will sink the boat." If the boat is actually sunk, the extortion effort is a failure.

The smaller party’s task, then, is to persuade the prime minister that it is serious about walking out in order to obtain the maximum benefit. The prime minister must give the impression that he will call the smaller party’s bluff, that he can get along without its support. But both sides are looking for a compromise solution."

Source: Barry Rubin, "Barak’s Uneasy Coalition and His Drive for Peace," AJC Israel/middle East Briefing, (June 21, 2000)