The long winter session of the Knesset began this week with a feeling of trepidation within the ruling Likud party on two accounts.
The first is the lingering suspicion of many MKs that a peace treaty with the Palestinians is being hatched behind their backs. They were not reassured by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhu’s hawkish speech last week at Bar-Ilan University.
The second is that as the verdict in Avigdor Lieberman’s breach of confidence case looms, uncertainty is growing over the future of Likud’s partnership with Yisrael Beiteinu.
A guilty verdict could force Mr Lieberman out of politics, although he would retain control of his party. Should Mr Lieberman decide to end the partnership between the two parties that ran together in the elections, Likud will be left with only 20 MKs, just one more than Yesh Atid.