Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would take on the defense minister portfolio, rejecting calls to dissolve his government even as early elections appeared increasingly likely.

Netanyahu said heading to elections now, amid repeated violent confrontations with Hamas, was “irresponsible” of his coalition partners, who have been pushing for early polls since the resignation last week of Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman over the Gaza cease-fire.

“Today, I take on for the first time the position of defense minister,” said Netanyahu, speaking from Israel’s defense headquarters in Tel Aviv in a statement broadcast live at the top of the evening newscasts.

“We are in one of the most complex security situations and during a period like this, you don’t topple a government. During a period like this you don’t go to elections,” he said.

Netanyahu and his Likud party are working convince coalition partners to keep elections at it’s current date, in November 2019. Earlier, Netanyahu met with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, in an effort to persuade him to proceed with the one-seat majority government of 61, as was the case for 18 months prior to Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party joining the coalition.

Kahlon however feels that the stability of the state and the economy requires elections as soon as possible, and that if Netanyahu does not convince him, he will support the dissolution of the Knesset, in line with the position of Naftali Bennet and his Bayit Yehudi party. Bennet announced he wants elections after learning he will not be receiving the defense portfolio in Lieberman’s place as he hoped would be the case.

Bennet and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, also of Bayit Yehudi, are set to deliver a statement to the media Monday.

Kahlon said at the end of the week that, contrary to the reports, he did not veto Bennet’s appointment to the defense portfolio, and now the ball is back in Netanyahu’s court.

In a tweet, Netanyahu had hinted that the meeting with Kahlon was “a last attempt to convince him not to topple the government” and signaled “all of us responsible for the toppling of the government”, and that “it is forbidden to topple a right-wing government.” Kahlon, for his part, said it was mere spin.

Both Kahlon and Bennet are reportedly preparing for elections by March 2019, at the latest.

Needless to say, the chareidim prefer to continue as is, fearing early elections will result in a coalition that is not as ‘chareidi-friendly’ as the current one, and no less important, they fear cutting the coalition’s tenure short will place the fate of the talmidei yeshivos and avreichim in the hands of the High Court of Justice as the deadline to legislate a new draft law will expire.

No Israeli government has served out its full term since 1988. Since then, elections have almost always been moved up because of a coalition crisis or a strategic move by the prime minister to maximize his chances of re-election.

Though Netanyahu has been reportedly flirting with the idea of moving up elections himself in recent months, the current timing is not ideal for him.

He has come under heavy criticism for agreeing to the Gaza cease-fire, especially from within his own political base and in the working-class, rocket-battered towns in southern Israel that are typically strongholds of his Likud Party. But with Lieberman forcing his hand and the other coalition partners appearing eager to head to the polls he may not have a choice.

Most opinion polls show Netanyahu easily securing re-election, which would secure him a place in Israeli history as the country’s longest serving leader. But several factors could trip him up, including a potential corruption indictment that could knock him out of contention.

Police have recommended he be indicted on bribery and breach of trust charges in two cases and have questioned him at length on another. The country has long been eagerly awaiting the attorney general’s decision on whether to press charges.

Netanyahu has angrily dismissed the accusations against him, characterizing them as part of a media-driven witch-hunt that is obsessed with removing him from office.

A poll taken by the Midgam Institute headed by Dr. Mincha Tzemach, in cooperation with iPanel, presents some interesting formation regarding the scenarios reported above.

Do you think the Defense Ministry portfolio should be given to Naftali Bennet?
51% No
25% Don’t know
24% Yes

Do the recent political developments justify heading to early elections?
53% Yes
32% No
15% Don’t know

If elections were held today, which party would you vote for? 
Likud 30
Yesh Atid 18
Machane Tzioni 12
Arab List 12
Bayit Yehudi 10
Kulanu 8
Shas 7
Yisrael Beitenu 6
Orli Abekasis-Levi 6
Yahadut Hatorah 6
Meretz 5

If elections were held today, and former IDF Chief Benny Gantz joins the Machane Tzioni, which party would you vote for?
Likud 26
Machane Tzioni 24
Yesh Atid 14
Arab List 12
Bayit Yehudi 9
Shas 7
Kulanu 7
Yahadut Hatorah 6
Yisrael Beitenu 6
Orli Abekasis-Levi 5
Meretz 4

Was DM Lieberman’s resignation a correct move?
59% Yes
26% No
15% Don’t know

What do you think was the main factor leading to DM Lieberman’s resignation?
49% Lack of agreement with the cabinet’s decisions
36% Political and personal considerations
11% Don’t know
4% Disagreement with the IDF

(AP / YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)