Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rejected a dramatic proposal on the eve of the election that could have increased his support among right-wing voters.
The proposal would open the Temple Mount for Jewish visitors on Saturdays.
"On the eve of the election, it was suggested to me to take a step that would affect the entire Middle East. I would not set fire to the region to gain power," Netanyahu said during a meeting of the right-wing parties.
Likud MKs told the head of government that such a move would draw votes from Otzma Yehudit, a party that received less than 20,000 votes in this week's elections and did not pass the electoral threshold.