The Religious Zionism Party, which has seven Knesset members, issued a statement on Monday rejecting any pause in the reform initiative, describing such a move as a “surrender” to the “violent” demonstrations taking place across the country.
“After much consideration and consultations, our position is that we must not do anything to stop the passage of the legislation. Stopping the legislation would constitute a surrender to violence and anarchy, to the refusal to serve in the army and to the dictatorship of the minority—and would undermine the results of the [November] election,” said the statement.
“We were and still are open to dialogue, compromise and agreement, but not under the threat of a coup by the centers of power against Israeli democracy,” it added.
In response, Economy Minister Nir Barkat of the Likud Party called on coalition parties to back Netanyahu.
“We must not bring about the overthrow of the right-wing government at our own hands. Our strength is in our unity,” he said.
Elsewhere in Israel, flights from Ben Gurion airport have been halted as the head of Israel's largest trade union called a general strike.
