JERUSALEM 18 Nov (ANA) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that early elections will be a disaster for Israel.

 

Mr Netanyahu made the remark at a cabinet meeting, as key coalition allies threaten to pull their support.

 

He is set to meet his finance minister later on Sunday, in a last-ditch attempt to avert early elections.

 

The political crisis began after Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman quit in opposition to a ceasefire with Gaza militants after three days of fighting.

 

The withdrawal of Mr Lieberman and his Yisrael Beiteinu party left the coalition with just a one-seat majority in the Knesset (parliament).

 

Talks between the PM and another coalition rival, Naftali Bennett, to find a way forward ended without agreement on Friday.

 

Mr Bennett has threatened to pull his party Habayit Hayehudi out of the government if he is not appointed the new minister of defence.

 

Mr Bennett's party is the third largest in the coalition. If he pulls out, Mr Netanyahu will be left with an unworkable minority.

 

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party is vital to the governing coalition's survival.(ANA)

FA/ANA/18 November 2018------