JERUSALEM, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pressures were mounting Thursday on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for early elections amidst turmoil sparked by defense minister's resignation following an agreed cease-fire with Gaza.
After Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday, Netanyahu called to "stabilize" his governing coalition. He launched a series of meetings with leaders of the parties that compose his government to avoid its collapse.
But on Thursday, leaders of some of the key coalition partners said Netanyahu should dissolve the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and call for early elections.
Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, leader of center-right Kulanu party and a major coalition partner, told Netanyahu that snap elections should be called as soon as possible in order to keep the economy on track.
Kahlon said that it is impossible to stabilize the government in the present situation, and "therefore the most responsible move is to establish a new, strong and stable government," according to a statement issued on Kahlon's behalf.
Later, another key member, Arie Deri, leader of ultra-Orthodox Shas party, echoed Kahlon, calling for early elections.
A spokesperson for Deri issued a statement, saying Deri told Netanyahu in a meeting that in the wake of Kahlon's announcement, the coalition's partners should find an agreed date for early elections as soon as possible.
Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the pro-settler Jewish Home party, demanded Netanyahu to make him defense minister or he would withdraw his eight seats from the coalition.
Lieberman announced his resignation in a press conference on Wednesday, citing sharp disagreement over an agreed cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist Palestinian movement that runs the Gaza Strip.
Lieberman, 60 years old, a hawkish member of the coalition, accused Netanyahu of "surrendering to terror" by agreeing to the cease-fire.
His resignation left the coalition with 61 members in the 120-seat parliament, making it likely to collapse if another party decides to quit.
The official date for the next general elections in Israel is November 2019. If early elections are called, they could be held by March 2019.
