The bill would allow the cabinet a 200-day period to approve a state budget, double what the current bill allows for. If Hauser's bill does not pass a second and third reading, the Knesset will dissolve itself on Aug. 25, and Israel will hold another election.

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The current distribution of ministerial portfolios gives the Likud-Haredi bloc three more votes in the cabinet than the Blue and White-Labor bloc has. But the coalition deal states that cabinet positions were supposed to have been divided equally between the two blocs. That requirement will have to be upheld from the moment that the rules and regulations for the cabinet are approved, but a vote to ratify them has not been held.

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Blue and White wants the cabinet rules approved prior to a vote on the state budget, hoping to go into the budget vote on an equal footing, but the Likud is refusing.

The main concern for Blue and White is that the Likud is deliberately avoiding a vote on the cabinet regulations in order to pass a disputed budget, without support from Blue and White, if necessary.

Likud representatives said Thursday that Sunday's cabinet meeting had not been cancelled, but confirmed that there was as yet no agenda for it. Blue and White representatives said that there was a true crisis, and that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "wants to dissolve the government."

Blue and White's patience for delaying the vote on a change to the cabinet rules has run out, and the party is demanding that the matter be discussed on Sunday.

Speaking to Israel Hayom, Blue and White officials said that "The government was formed two and a half months ago, and for weeks, the issue of the cabinet regulations have been pushed from the agenda."

However, sources in Blue and White said the party did not think that the Likud was trying any dirty tricks.

"We believe the matter will be solved, and want to make it clear that every subject having to do with addressing coronavirus will, of course, be at the top of the agenda," Blue and White said.

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Netanyahu said that the impasse with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman over the haredi conscription issue was "cosmetic."

"This is a semantic debate – you don't hold an early election over a cosmetic issue," Netanyahu said.

The prime minister said that Israel had "endless" things to accomplish, including addressing security and defense challenges, economic challenges, pension reform, and strengthening the settlement enterprise.

"I am telling you, from the depth of my heart, from the depth of my understanding, that there is no reason to drag the country into a needless election that will cost an astronomical sum," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu pointed to his close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump and said that the U.S. leader was in favor of Israel resolving the current coalition crisis and establishing a government that would continue to "strengthen the alliance between Israel and the United States, and make it stronger than ever."

Netanyahu said that 48 hours remained before the deadline to form a governing coalition.

"We can do a lot in 48 hours. We can establish a strong, right-wing government," he said.

"I expect the good of the country to overcome any other interest. There is still time. We can still come to our senses," the prime minister concluded.

The bill to dissolve the 21^st Knesset and hold an early general election at the end of August passed in a preliminary reading Monday evening.

Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu faction voted in favor of the bill.

To be enacted, the bill will have to pass all the requisite readings by this Wednesday – the extended deadline given to Netanyahu by President Reuven Rivlin to form a governing coalition.

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Blue and White co-leader Benny Gantz said, ""Netanyahu is leading Israel to a serious crisis of confidence. The silence of the lambs in the Likud is embarrassing – they are paralyzed by fear. We are witnessing dark days for the Likud movement … the possibility of assembling a coalition should pass to Blue and White under my leadership.

"We are saying, here and now, we will continue our battle for as long as necessary – tyranny will not arise and will not exist here," Gantz said.

Gantz added that Blue and White would oppose the dissolution of the current Knesset.
"Netanyahu will try to survive. That is his belief, but the country belongs to all of us, and we will keep fighting," he said.

MK Itzik Shmuli (Labor) said that all the opposition parties would vote against the bill to dissolve the Knesset and hold an early election.

"Voting for it means extending Netanyahu's political life, but the moment we take the mandate away from him, new options for forming an alternative coalition could open up," Shmuli explained.

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The vote was 65 in favor of the bill, 43 against, with six abstentions.

To be enacted, the bill will have to pass all the requisite readings by this Wednesday – the extended deadline given to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by President Reuven Rivlin to form a governing coalition.

Meanwhile, in a last-ditch attempt to try and head off an early general election, Habayit Hayehudi chairman Rafi Peretz met with Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman Monday afternoon and arranged for him to meet with Netanyahu. The two were sitting down while their fellow MKs voted to dissolve the Knesset. According to a source in the Likud, the meeting ended without any breakthrough.

Netanyahu was expected to address the Knesset plenum and make an announcement at 8 p.m.

The flurry of activity came after Netanyahu met with faction leaders earlier Monday to discuss a date for a new Knesset election. The faction leaders and the prime minister reportedly agreed on a date toward the end of August.

Earlier Monday, MK Miki Zohar presented the Knesset Secretary with a bill to dissolve the 21^st Knesset and hold a new election.

Lieberman said earlier Monday he was insisting that a bill on haredi conscription authored while he was still serving as defense minister be passed by the Knesset, as planned.

"Anyone can realize this is a stance of principle. That's what the Likud is most afraid of, that people will realize this isn't revenge or anything [like that]. The Likud is trying to create a narrative of personal revenge," Lieberman said.

The Yisrael Beytenu leader also had harsh words for Israel Hayom's coverage of his latest political moves, saying that "Pravda is the days of Stalin was gentler."

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