JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resisted calls for snap polls on Sunday, saying elections now would be “unnecessary and wrong”, ahead of what he called last-ditch talks to hold his embattled coalition together.

Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition was thrown into crisis on Wednesday after Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s resignation over a controversial Gaza ceasefire deal, leading to speculation over whether early elections have become inevitable.

After Lieberman’s withdrawal along with his Yisrael Beitenu party, Netanyahu’s government was left clinging to a one-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament.

Key coalition partners say that is unworkable even though elections are not due until November 2019.

Netanyahu, who has sought to delay calling elections, made his case at the start of a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

“In a period of security sensitivity, it’s unnecessary and wrong to go to elections,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu planned to meet Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, whose centre-right Kulanu party holds 10 seats, at 6:30 pm on Sunday for what he called a “last attempt” to keep the government together.

In a sign of a possible agreement being worked out, a spokesman for Netanyahu’s Likud party said the premier would “decide on the appointment of ministers in the coming days,” but provided no further details.

In the meantime, Netanyahu sought to portray business as usual, heading to a meeting with the military chief of staff, his incoming successor and the head of the internal security agency Shin Bet, the Likud spokesman said.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2018