THE resignation by an Israeli minister yesterday came as no great surprise. But the fact that it was the Minister of Justice, Prof Yaacov Neeman, a close ally of Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than one of the long line of cabinet ministers who have had run ins with the prime minister in, recent weeks, was slightly shocking. And his sudden departure underlines the rocky start to government made by Mr Netanyahu's coalition.
Prof Neeman had little choice but to quit after he learned that the Israeli Attorney General had ordered a police investigation into allegations, dating back several years, that he intimidated a witness in a long running political trial.
In a furious television interview, he naturally proclaimed his innocence, but also vowed to get even with the Attorney General, Mr Michael Ben Yair. He predicted that the case against him would quickly be found to be baseless, that he would retake his seat at the cabinet table, and pledged that he would then institute proceedings to force Mr Ben Yair's resignation.
A former corporate lawyer, Prof Neeman was instrumental in keeping the prime minister's marriage together three years ago, after Mr Netanyahu revealed on television that he had been cheating on his third wife, Sara. Prof Neeman reportedly advised Mrs Xetanyahu against starting divorce proceedings, and helped engineer a reconciliation.
The loss of a key cabinet ally is a blow to a prime minister already at odds with many of his ministerial colleagues. The Foreign Minister, Mr David Levy, is himself threatening to resign slighted at having been excluded from international summits, and having been kept in the dark, about Mr Netanyahu's policies on relations with, the Palestinians.
Mr Levy heads a five strong coalition faction, and a dramatic resignation could trigger a real government crisis but these two men have had numerous previous bust ups, and Mr Netanyahu has generally provided the compromise proposal that has effected a unifying of the ranks. It is unlikely that this time will be any different.
Still, Mr Levy is not the only grumbling minister. The ministers of defence, infrastructure, finance and science have also been in confrontation with the prime minister in the brief lifetime this government.
Mr Netanyahu is also facing growing criticism over his perceived failure to follow through on policies. A series of far reaching budget cuts has quietly been scrapped.
A decision to formally announce plans to withdraw Israeli troops from Hebron, as required under a peace treaty signed by the previous government, was reportedly taken, then reversed. And even an attempt to close down the small Jerusalem office of a minor Palestinian legislator was embarrassingly abandoned yesterday.