Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday pressed on with efforts to prevent early elections in the wake of Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman's resignation as defense minister and his consequent decision to pull his party out of the coalition.
Kulanu leader Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and Shas leader Interior Minister Aryeh Deri have also voiced their support for early election.
Following Lieberman's announcement, Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett demanded to be named defense minister in his place, threatening to bolt the coalition unless his demand his met. The coalition cannot survive without Bennett's party, meaning that his withdrawal would spell certain elections.
A senior source in the Prime Minister's Office said Thursday that while Netanyahu was considering Bennett's demand, "other alternatives" were being explored as well.
Coalition insiders said Thursday that given the personal rivalry between Netanyahu and Bennett, Netanyahu will likely opt for early elections, which would probably be set for April.
Kahlon and Netanyahu met Thursday, as part of the prime minister's consultations with the heads of the coalition partners.
The finance minister later said he told Netanyahu that "for the good of the economy, we have to call early elections as soon as possible."
He noted that "the stability it [the economy] requires at this time cannot be achieved in the current [political] climate, therefore, the most responsible thing to do is agree on a date for early elections."
"For the good of the country, we need to establish a new, strong and stable government," he said.
Deri was quoted as saying that "early elections must be called without delay. The good of the country demands it."
Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with Bennett on Friday morning.
Bennett said Thursday that he wanted to be named defense minister "with one aim in mind – to make sure Israel is victorious again. Defense isn't just another portfolio for me, it's an existential mission."
Speaking at an Education Ministry event, Bennett said, "Almost four years ago, I was entrusted with the education portfolio and with an excellent team of over 2 million Israeli students. This is an exceptional privilege and a very fun job, too. I wouldn't leave it [the Education Ministry] for any other position if Israel was not currently plagued by a deep security crisis.
"Israel is facing one of its most complex and dangerous times, and the most dangerous thing for Israel is that we have come to think that there is no solution for terrorism, terrorists and missiles; that there's nothing we can do; that we can't win. But there is something we can do and there is a solution: when Israel wants to win, we will win," he declared.
Bennett noted that multiple advisers have warned him that becoming defense minister was "a political mistake," adding, "They may be right, but what they don't understand is that for me, Israel's security is the goal and politics is the means to that end, not the other way around. As defense minister, I intend to introduce innovation, creativity and a fighting spirit, breaking decades of mental fixation."
The residents of the Israeli communities near the Gaza border, he continued, "keep telling us [the government], 'You have our support to do what needs to be done to win.' Without assuming responsibility for security, without a dramatic change, Israeli deterrence will continue eroding and Hamas will not fear us. So I'm standing here and I'm telling you – I'm willing to assume this responsibility."
Also on Thursday, the prime minister's son, Yair Netanyahu, took to Facebook and urged the heads of the right-wing parties not to call for early elections.
"My father warned that the Gaza Strip would become a Hamas state and that the few missiles fired at the Gush Katif settlements [before the 2005 disengagement from Gaza] would turn into salvos on Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beersheba.
"The Left mocked him and call him the national fearmonger. Now, my right-wing brothers, they are trying to harness your (justified) frustration to crown a left-wing government. Giving the Left another chance to continue what they did in Oslo [in 1993], in the withdrawal from Lebanon [in 2000] and during the disengagement, will pose an existential threat to Israel."
