Israel’s New Government Fails to Extend Contentious Citizenship Law

In an early setback for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, parts of his coalition opposed the law. The opposition refused to come to the rescue.

JERUSALEM — In an early setback for Israel’s three-week-old government, it lost a parliamentary vote early on Tuesday to extend a contentious law that effectively bans citizenship or permanent residency for Palestinians from the occupied territories if they marry Israelis. Fifty-nine lawmakers voted in favor and 59 against, in a draw that was not enough to extend the law, which required a simple majority. The vote, which occurred after a long and rowdy night of debate, exposed cracks in the diverse and fragile coalition led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a right-winger: Two members of Raam, the Arab Islamist party that forms part of the governing coalition, abstained. One rebel member of Mr. Bennett’s Yamina party voted against the government, eliciting cheers from the opposition.