The dirty trick (Israel)

The dirty trick (Hebrew: התרגיל המסריח‎‎, HaTargil HaMasriaḥ, lit. the stinking trick) refers to a political scandal that erupted in Israel in 1990. It consisted of an attempt by Shimon Peres to form a narrow government made up of the left-wing factions and the ultra-orthodox parties. It failed when the ultra-Orthodox parties backed out on the deal.

Peres' Israel Labour Party had been part of a national unity government with its traditional rival, Yitzhak Shamir's Likud, since 1986. Since 1988, Shamir had served as Prime Minister, while Peres served as Finance Minister. In early 1990, the United States Secretary of State James Baker suggested that Israel negotiate with a Palestinian delegation consisting of Palestinians deported from the Israeli occupied territories as well as some from East Jerusalem. Peres demanded that the government accept Baker's proposal. Shamir balked, under pressure from hardliners in his own party. Peres gave Shamir an ultimatum, threatening to tear up the coalition agreement if Shamir did not accept the Baker plan.

Peres drafted a secret agreement with Aryeh Deri and Shas to support the dissolution of the national unity government. The Alignment then issued a motion of no confidence against the government. Shamir promptly sacked Peres, and the other Alignment ministers resigned as well. On 15 March, the government was dissolved by a vote of 60 to 55. Agudat Yisrael voted for the motion, while Shas abstained. It was the only time in Israeli history that a government was dissolved by a motion of no confidence.

...
Wikipedia