Netanyahu warns early elections in Israel would be "irresponsible"


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Last week, Netanyahu's right-wing coalition faced its biggest challenge since coming to power almost four years ago, after the resignation of a key minister and the demand for a new president. new government.

The crisis was sparked on Wednesday by the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, who opposed a ceasefire with Gaza militants that was struck on November 13, putting an end to the worst fighting between militants. two parts since the war of 2014.

"We are in one of the most complicated security situations, and at a time like this, you are not dismounting a government, you are not participating in elections, it is irresponsible," he said. Netanyahu Sunday in a speech on television.

The resignation of Liberman, the radical leader of the right-wing party Yisrael Beiteinu, left the government with 61 seats – a single-seat majority – in the Knesset over 120 seats.

Naftali Bennett, the Minister of Education on the right, then asked for the post of Defense Minister or threatened to leave the coalition, which would overthrow Netanyahu's government and impose early elections.

The talks between Bennett and Netanyahu were broken Friday.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Interior Minister Aryeh Deri also called for early elections.

Netanyahu, who himself was in charge of the defense ministry, spoke with Kahlon on Sunday while he was trying to maintain the coalition.

General view of the Israeli city of Ashkelon, while an iron-dome missile missile was firing on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and Gaza on November 12, 2018.

A controversial cease-fire hit

The crisis began following the barrage of some 400 rockets from Gaza to Israel on November 12, hours after a botched Israeli operation in Gaza left a Hamas commander and an Israeli soldier killed. The Israeli army has hit more than 100 targets in the interior of Gaza.

The Egyptians and the United Nations negotiated a new ceasefire to end hostilities. Liberman called the cease-fire "capitulation to terror".

However, Netanyahu once again defended the ceasefire on Sunday, saying it had been done in consultation with Israeli security forces, suggesting that there may be future military action.

"I know what to do, when to do it and we will do it," said Netanyahu.

"I hope all partners will show responsibility and not overthrow the government," he added.

Netanyahu has faced coalition crises in the past, but none as serious as the current one. He has repeatedly promised to suspend the government's mandate until November 2019, but this commitment seems more and more doubtful.

If the coalition parties agree to hold early elections by the end of the month, they are required by law to hold the vote within three to five months, as early as possible at the end of the month. March or early March.

Political turmoil arises as Netanyahu faces criminal investigations that hit him and his entourage. The Israeli police have enough evidence to charge Netanyahu with corruption, fraud and breach of trust in two separate investigations.

He was questioned as a suspect in a third investigation. Netanyahu has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence, often using the phrase "There will be nothing because there is nothing".

Criminal investigations have barely damaged the Prime Minister's reputation in polls or his popularity. The polls have repeatedly said that Netanyahu's Likud Party would maintain or increase its number of seats if early elections were held.

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