Netanyahu
NetanyahuReuters

Senior coalition officials strongly criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, asserting that his recent steps could lead to his dismantling a right-wing government with his own hands.

"The prime minister is dissolving a right-wing government and thus losing the chance of a lifetime with US President Donald Trump," the officials said.

They noted that the crisis with Yisrael Beytenu was imaginary and unnecessary. "The prime minister does not have to fire Minister Sofa Landver if she votes against the law," said the senior officials.

For the time being, circles close to Netanyahu are threatening that if Yisrael Beytenu Minister Sofa Landver votes against the Draft Law, she will be fired immediately.

Yisrael Beytenu Chairman, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, said yesterday that if Landver is fired from her post as punishment for opposing the law, his party would quit the coalition, leaving the coalition with 61 seats. Netanyahu said on Sunday that he would not agree to a coalition without Yisrael Beytenu. Netanyahu apparently spoke to Liberman by telephone last night in a last-ditch effort to end the coalition crisis and prevent elections, according to Hadashot 2.

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation is scheduled to vote for the second time on the draft law on Tuesday afternoon, after Minister Sofa Landver (Yisrael Beytenu) appealed the bill.

A vote on the bill in the Knesset plenum is expected after the discussion at the Ministerial Committee. On Wednesday bills to dissolve the Knesset initiated by Meretz and Yesh Atid are scheduled to be discussed.

Earlier on Monday, Netanyahu addressed the Knesset and declared that he is unafraid of elections.

"If there are elections, we'll run and we'll win, but we're not there yet. The hour is late, but not too late. We must make a final supreme effort to preserve the government in its current composition for a length of time," he said.

Netanyahu on Monday afternoon made clear that he was seeking the continued existence of the government and urged Liberman to remain in the coalition.

His comments came after Yisrael Beytenu threatened to bolt the coalition if the haredi-backed draft law is approved in its second and third readings.

ליברמן: אם נתניהו יפטר את סופה לנדבר - יהיו בחירותדוברות משרד הביטחון