Knesset Speaker Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein has a hard time seeing how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s narrow, fourth government will manage to survive for more than a year unless it is expanded. On May 18, less than a week after the farce that was the swearing-in of Israel’s new, 34th government, after 9 p.m. in a tense and decidedly unfestive event, Edelstein told Al-Monitor that the 61-member coalition was unhealthy and that it could not last long. He believes that a unity government would be good for both the coalition and the opposition. In contrast, a new round of elections so close to the last one, on March 17, would be terrible for both sides and could result in a severe crisis of trust between the Knesset and the public.

Edelstein is one of the most senior members of the Likud Party. He came in second after Knesset member and former Minister Gilad Erdan in the primaries to determine the makeup of the Likud Knesset list, and asked the prime minister that he be allowed to continue in his position as speaker of the Knesset after the elections. In retrospect, this spared him the anguish, tension and disappointment faced by other top party members who expected to receive positions in the new government.

Al-Monitor:  On the night that the ministers were sworn in [May 14], you said from the Knesset podium that the predominant feeling of the average citizen is that something isn’t working quite right here, that the efficiency of the current system of government is inadequate and that it is not worthy. What does that say about what lies ahead for this government?

Edelstein:  There is an obvious paradox when it comes to this coalition. During its initial stage, and I don’t know how to define that period exactly — one month, two months, until the end of the summer session — it will be a very strong coalition, because no one has the privilege to say, “I’m against something, and it’s a matter of principle. You’ll have to make do without me” [thus perhaps toppling the government]. During this stage, every Knesset member, including every backbencher, knows that he has the exact same responsibility as the prime minister. This means that the coalition will be strong at first and not lose any votes on the Knesset floor. Everything will be fine and dandy.