Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) announced in a special national address Sunday evening that he would take the defense portfolio for himself.
The address, made from the defense ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, followed a coalition crisis that began last week with the politically-charged resignation of outgoing Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu).
Netanyahu’s announcement came despite an ultimatum from his government’s Bayit Yehudi faction that its leader Naftali Bennett receive the portfolio.
Both Education Minister Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, the Bayit Yehudi party’s two senior ministers, are expected to resign their positions in the government Monday morning at a press conference scheduled for 10:30.
Bayit Yehudi’s exit from the government would leave Netanyahu’s coalition with only a 53 seat minority, leading the country to national elections.
“We are in one of the most complex security situations,” the prime minister said in his address Sunday night.
“At a time like this, we do not topple a government and hold an election. It’s irresponsible. We have a year left [until national elections must legally take place].”
Netanyahu also defended his controversial decision to accept an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Hamas last week.
“Much of the criticism comes from the fact that the reasons [for government decisions] are based on material that simply cannot be revealed at this point.”
The prime minister also urged coalition partners to remain in his government and prevent immediate elections, recalling the American-orchestrated toppling of Prime Minister Yitzḥak Shamir’s coalition in 1992.
“I will do everything possible to prevent unnecessary early elections. I spoke with coalition leaders and told them this is the time to show responsibility. Don’t take down this government. I reminded them of what happened in 1992 when the Likud government was toppled, and we ended up with the Oslo [Accords].”
Netanyahu’s mention of 1992 served as a sort of post-traumatic trigger for many Israelis and a warning to Bayit Yehudi not to repeat the mistakes of the nationalist T’ḥiya party by trying to topple his government.
