Israel avoided early elections after a key coalition partner in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said on Monday that he would not withdraw his party, keeping the coalition intact despite a crisis triggered by a violent flare-up and subsequent ceasefire with Gaza terrorists.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett said his Bayit Yehudi party would give Netanyahu another chance to address the security challenges facing Israel, listing off threats from Gaza and Lebanon, among others, which he wanted dealt with more firmly.

Bennet was expected to announce the party’s resignations from the cabinet on Monday morning, 11 Kislev, but he surprised the nation. During a nationally televised press conference from the Knesset alongside Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, they stated they are not resigning, but are giving Netanyahu a last change to run the nation’s affairs with a one-seat majority coalition.

“I tell the prime minister here: we are withdrawing right now all of our political demands and will stand to help you in this great mission of getting Israel to win again,” he said.

“If the government would really start leading toward the right path, acting like a real right-wing government, it’s worth trying,” he added. “The ball is in the prime minister’s court.”

Bennet acknowledged that the turnaround could hurt him politically, but said he felt it was in the country’s interests to give Netanyahu one last chance.

The crisis began after Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who had demanded a far stronger response to the massive wave of rocket fire, resigned in protest of the cease-fire that ended the fighting. Bennett threatened to bolt the government if he wasn’t named defense minister, a post Netanyahu said Sunday he was taking over himself.

Likud officials had worked during the night, seeking to have rabbonim pressure Bayit Yehudi into remaining in the cabinet. Netanyahu, during the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, told his ministers that this was a fragile time for Israel, not a time for early elections.

Bennet began the media event, citing the nation is in the midst of a security crisis that stems from within, not with the enemy, as there is no longer trust in the government concerning the nation’s security. He stresses the dangers facing the nation are no worse today than a few months ago but accuses Netanyahu of politicizing the nation’s security. The brief statements were a personal attack against Mr. Netanyahu concerning his performance regarding Israel’s security. As is Bennet’s norm, he announced how he left the high-tech industry, which he so loved, to enter politics “to make a difference”.

Bennet added over 560 rockets were fired at Israel and a Coronet rocket struck a bus, yet the prime minister would like the nation to believe that we are okay, and we can return to business as usual. He feels the nation’s leader is too concerned with Israel’s image in Europe and the response of The International Court of Justice than he is with the nation’s security. “They would like us to believe there is nothing to be done in the face of the rocket fire, but this is not so, there is something that can be done and if Israel decides to emerge victorious against Hamas, it can and will”.

Bennet accused former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman of failing miserably, and that he asked to be appointed to replace Lieberman, but this was rejected by Mr. Netanyahu, despite feeling he has the credentials for the post.

“I imagine I will be paying a heavy political price in the coming hours for my actions, but it is better that I pay a price then Haniyeh succeeds [against Israel].

Justice Minister Shaked explained that Naftali Bennet is suited to serve as Israel’s Defense Minister and should be appointed to the post. She added “We are representatives of the tzibur and we will not abandon our responsibility and we will not run…Bayit Yehudi will continue serving as the ‘nation’s moral compass’”.

The ministers acted keenly from a political perspective, retracting any and all demands from PM Netanyahu, placing the responsibility for the nation’s security squarely on his shoulders and showing Bayit Yehudi voters they are responsible and not acting to bring down the coalition as was expected would be the case.

Bennet earlier in the week announced he wants early elections, and he and Kulanu party chairman, Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon decided on a date; March 26, 2019 (19 Adar II). PM Netanyahu on Sunday met with Kahlon in the hope of persuading him to remain in the coalition and not support early elections, making a last-ditch effort to prevent early elections.

Bennet has been fighting to become defense minister since entering politics, and he has failed because PM Netanyahu is unwilling to appoint him to the post. The two have a long history, a difficult one over recent years, and for Mr. Netanyahu, he would be pleased to see a cabinet table without Bennet seated opposite him, but this has not been the case as Bennet’s party has been in the coalition in this and the previous Knessets.

In her remarks this morning, Shaked announced that Mr. Netanyahu promised the defense portfolio to Bennet in the last Knesset election, but after the party only earned eight seats in Knesset, he retracted, failing to make good on the promise.

Bennet explained that he does not know how long a coalition can exist resting on a majority of one, but he is willing to wait and see, citing the government must change direction and restore deterrence and security.

Minister Shaked added that on a personal and professional level she sees the failures regarding Israel’s security.

The two took the nation by surprise, not to mention PM Netanyahu by not announcing their resignations, and they said the ball is now in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s court.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)