Israel’s ruling coalition became a minority in the Knesset following the resignation of Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi of the left-wing Meretz party.
The defection by Member of Knesset (MK) Zoabi leaves the government of Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett with just 59 of the 120 parliamentary seats, raising the opposition a majority of 61.
In a letter published by local media, Zoabi cited ideological differences such as security measures to control the recent escalation in violence in Jerusalem as cause for her departure.
“I cannot keep supporting the existence of a coalition that shamefully harasses the society I came from,” wrote the Arab lawmaker.