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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 10 May 2022
Embattled Israeli leader vows to keep government afloat

By JOSEF FEDERMAN violence, much of it fueled
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's by tensions and fighting at
embattled prime minister Jerusalem's most sensitive
on Monday vowed to con- holy site, prompted Man-
tinue to lead the country sour Abbas, leader of the
as his shaky government Islamist Arab Ra'am faction
limped into the opening of in the coalition, to suspend
parliament's summer ses- cooperation. Abbas has
sion on the verge of col- not said whether he will re-
lapse. sume cooperation or join
Less than a year after tak- the opposition in attempts
ing office, Naftali Bennett to topple the coalition this
has lost his parliamentary week.
majority, his own party is "We're in a not so simple cri-
crumbling and a key gov- sis with Ra'am," Toporovsky
erning partner has sus- said, adding that he un-
pended cooperation with derstood the Islamist party's
the coalition. That has set disappointment in the slow
the stage for a possible at- pace of effecting change
tempt by the opposition, for Israel's Arab citizens.
led by former Prime Minis- A public opinion survey in
ter Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pauses during the opening of the summer session of the Knes- April by the Israel Democra-
to topple the government set, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Monday, May 9, 2022. cy Institute found that only
later this week. Associated Press 30% of respondents be-
While Bennett appears to lieved the government was
be poised to fend off this can bring about, heaven tionalists that oppose Pal- leads a small religious-na- likely to survive the year,
immediate challenge, his forbid, elections in Israel," estinian statehood, dovish tionalist party, has ruled down from 49% in February.
longer-term prospects are he told the Israeli pub- left-wingers and for the out peace talks with the The think tank polled 751 Is-
uncertain at a time when lic broadcaster Kan early first time in an Israeli coali- Palestinians, he has tried raeli Jews and Arabs, and
the government is deeply Monday. tion, an Islamist Arab par- to reduce tensions by tak- reported a margin of error
divided over major issues, The new government ty, agreed to sideline the ing steps to improve living of 3.65 percentage points.
Israel is facing an ongo- made history when it took country's most divisive is- conditions in the occupied Netanyahu is weighing
ing wave of stabbings and office last June, ending pro- sues and focus on areas of West Bank and Gaza Strip. whether to introduce a mo-
shootings by lone-wolf Pal- longed deadlock in which broad consensus. This cautious approach has tion this week to dissolve
estinian attackers and a the country went through The government has man- repeatedly been tested. parliament and trigger new
confrontation with the Unit- four rounds of inconclusive aged to pass a budget, One member of Bennett's elections. Such a move
ed States over West Bank elections in just two years. navigate the coronavirus Yamina party defected is risky. It would require at
settlement construction is Racing to head off what pandemic and strength- when the government took least one of the remaining
looming. would have been another en relations with both the office, accusing him of members of the coalition
Boaz Toporovsky, the act- election, Bennett cobbled Biden administration and abandoning their nation- to join him, and there is no
ing coalition chairman, ac- together a diverse coalition Israel's Arab allies. Bennett alist ideology. A second guarantee that will hap-
knowledged the coalition of eight parties with little also has emerged as a member followed suit last pen. If he fails, he would
is in the midst of a "serious in common beyond their surprising mediator in the month, leaving the coali- not be able to introduce a
crisis" but said he was opti- shared animosity toward Ukraine-Russia war, regular- tion and opposition equally similar motion for the next
mistic it would survive. "Ev- Netanyahu. ly speaking to the leaders divided in the 120-seat par- six months as an ongoing
eryone understands that The new coalition, includ- of both countries. liament. corruption trial against Ne-
we're at a crossroads that ing hard-line religious na- Although Bennett, who Weeks of Israeli-Palestinian tanyahu moves ahead.q

Official: 8 Turkish citizens kidnapped from bus in Haiti

By EVENS SANON Josue said he did not have missionary group in the
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) any details on a potential same area last October.
— Eight Turkish citizens have ransom request, and no The gang demanded $1
been kidnapped in Haiti's additional information was million in ransom and held
capital, an official told The immediately available. most of them until Decem-
Associated Press on Mon- Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign ber.
day, apparently the latest Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu A diplomat from the Do-
in a string of high-profile told reporters that a "crisis minican Republic was kid-
kidnappings by powerful desk" had been set up in napped in the same neigh-
gangs. Haiti and that Turkey was borhood earlier this month
Hugues Josue, Turkey's hon- following the issue closely. and later freed.
orary consul in Haiti, said "They are thought to have Last week, Haiti's National
the group had boarded a been kidnapped for ran- Police announced that
bus in the neighboring Do- som," Cavusoglu said. one of the top leaders of
minican Republic and were "There is negative concern- the 400 Mawozo gang, Demonstrators march demanding peace and security in La
kidnapped late Sunday af- ing the state of their health Germine Joly, was extra- Plaine neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Friday, May 6,
ternoon in the Croix-des- at the moment." dited to the U.S. He faces 2022.
Bouquets neighborhood of Croix-des-Bouquets is con- charges involving kidnap- Associated Press
Port-au-Prince. Those kid- trolled by the 400 Mawozo ping, smuggling and import
napped were five men and gang, which kidnapped 17 of weapons of war. has prompted Haitians to weeks to demand safer
three women, he said. members of a U.S.-based The violence and insecurity organize protests in recent neighborhoods.q