JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called proposed early elections on Tuesday and fired two key ministers in his coalition for opposing government policy. The sackings were the latest move in a political crisis that will come to a head on Wednesday when lawmakers vote on a bill to dissolve the Knesset (parliament).

That would set the stage for a vote expected in March or April, in what would be Israel’s second general election in just over two years. “I will not tolerate any opposition in my government,” Netanyahu said of the sacking of Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

“I won’t accept ministers attacking the policy and head of the government from within,” he said in a statement.

Netanyahu said he would call for parliament to be dissolved “as soon as possible to go to the people and get a clear mandate to lead Israel”.

Cracks in Netanyahu’s right-leaning coalition emerged over next year’s budget and a contentious bill aimed at enshrining Israel’s status as a Jewish state in law, a move critics say could harm its Arab minority.

Published in Dawn December 3rd , 2014