Israel’s government suffered a serious setback today when Meretz Knesset member Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi announced she would no longer be part of the coalition.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Rinawie Zoabi wrote, "I entered politics because I saw myself as an emissary of Arab society, which I represent. A year ago, I joined the coalition. I labored diligently for its success, because I believed that Jewish-Arab partnership in such a coalition could offer a true ruling alternative and a real window of hope for Arab society, a new way of equality and dignity. Unfortunately, over the last few months for narrow political reasons, the heads of the coalition chose to strengthen their right side."

Rinawie Zoabi claimed that the heads of the coalition repeatedly espoused hawkish right-wing positions on key issues pertinent to Arab society "such as Al-Aqsa and Temple Mount, [east Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood] Sheikh Jarrah, the settlement and occupation enterprises, house demolitions and land expropriation in Arab villages in the Negev region and, of course, the nationality law."

She argued that the current coalition is composed of two classes: the "upper class," which keeps making demands, and the "lower class," the Arab coalition partners who are subject to constant pressure and political blackmail.