It took time for Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to establish himself as a serious politician and statesman. This week, he suddenly found himself caught up in a political crisis that threatens the coalition’s very survival and his own political future. It is a situation over which he seemingly has no control.

The April 6 decision by Knesset member Idit Silman to quit the coalition sent shockwaves through the government and all its diverse parties. Even before she made her exit, this was a very fragile coalition, with a majority of just one seat. Without her, it has lost that majority and will have a hard time functioning for much longer.

To make matters worse, other Knesset members from Yamina, which happens to be Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s own party, are also looking for ways to return to their natural home on the right, meaning that the Bennett-Lapid government is living on borrowed time. It is commonly thought that Israel will find itself in a new election cycle as early as September.

That is why all eyes were on Lapid April 6. Should there be early elections, the coalition agreement between him and Bennett gives him the right to become prime minister immediately, instead of waiting for the summer of 2023 for the rotation agreement to be implemented. When negotiating the rotation agreement, Lapid, who also holds the title of alternate prime minister, added a “safety net clause” by which he would immediately become transitional prime minister if the Knesset is dissolved and elections are advanced. He will then have all the legal authority that comes with the position. Most importantly, he will then be able to conduct his campaign as a serving prime minister. There can be no doubt that this would be a major advantage.