Netanyahu faces vote with coalition weakened by Gaza truce

He may call early elections or be forced into fresh vote if another party quits the govt

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With no majority in Parliament and surrounded by allies outraged by his acceptance of a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have set his sights on Israel's next elections.

A political phoenix, Mr Netanyahu is the country's longest-serving prime minister, has been its dominant political figure for decades, and heads one of the most right-wing coalitions in Israel's history.

But he does not hold an absolute parliamentary majority after an ultra-Orthodox party quit in July, protesting against the government's failure to pass a law to exempt its community from military service.

The summer parliamentary recess came at just the right time to shield the government, which now holds just 60 of 120 seats, from motions of no confidence.

But the resumption of the Knesset's work on Oct 20 heralded the return of transactional politics and potential threats for the government.

Under pressure from US President Donald Trump, Mr Netanyahu agreed to a ceasefire with Hamas that came into effect on Oct 10 after more than two years of war in Gaza.

His far-right allies vehemently denounced the agreement, arguing that the military should retain control of the entire Gaza Strip and crush the Palestinian Islamist movement for good.

And while they are not abandoning the ship of government, they are raising the price to keep them on board.