JERUSALEM, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday afternoon denied the reports that Israel is heading toward snap elections, said a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office.
Netanyahu said "rumors that a decision to go to elections had been made were incorrect," according to the statement after his meeting with Education Minister Naftali Bennett on Friday.
The prime minister stressed "the importance of making every effort to preserve the government and not to repeat the historical mistake of 1992 when the right-wing government was overthrown, the left came into power and brought the Oslo disaster to the State of Israel," said the statement.
Earlier in the day, Israeli media reported that Israel will hold early elections, decided after the meeting between Netanyahu and Bennett.
Reports said that the heads of the Israeli coalition will agree on a date to hold elections.
The meeting between Netanyahu and Bennett, who is the head of the far-right Habayit Hayehudi party (Jewish Home), was held amid the government's calls to avoid snap elections.
The decision reportedly came after Netanyahu rejected Bennett's demand to be made defense minister at the meeting.
The Jewish Home is to leave the coalition, bringing down government and forcing new elections, Israeli media quoted senior party sources as saying.
According to the Israeli law, early elections can be held 90 days after the day when the government is dissolved, likely placing the elections some time between March and May, if elections will indeed be held early, Israeli media reported.
Pressures were mounting on Netanyahu to call for early elections amid turmoil sparked by defense minister's resignation following an agreed cease-fire with Hamas.
On Thursday, leaders of some of the key coalition partners said Netanyahu should dissolve the Knesset, Israel's parliament, and call for early elections.
