While Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is fighting to persuade faction leaders in his coalition not to dissolve the coalition, the faction leaders have already decided that March 26, 2019 (19 Adar II) would be an appropriate date.

Seeking to flex his political muscle, as he prefers to continue with the current coalition of 61, Netanyahu told faction leaders that if they compel early elections, he will “remind” them of how they dissolved the coalition government during the election campaign.

PM Netanyahu on Sunday met with Kulanu party leader, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who prior to the meeting said he too favors early elections for the good of the economy, but admitted if convinced otherwise by Mr. Netanyahu, he will continue with the coalition and its narrow majority.

Mr. Netanyahu has informed his coalition partners that they should not be so anxious to dissolve a right-wing government for they do not know what will come in its place. Shas leader Minister Aryeh Deri said last week that Shas is ready of elections and is not afraid of early elections. That said, it is not in the interest of the chareidi parties to head to early elections, especially since a new draft bill has yet to be signed into law.

Perhaps the most amazing component of the entire process is that while Israel continues to insist Hamas is under control and it dare not cross the government’s red line, if early elections are decided upon, it will be the direct result of the last wave of Hamas warfare against communities and cities in Southern Israel since that led to the resignation of the Defense Minister and the current coalition crisis.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)