Polls are ‘wrong and unnecessary’

– Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resisted calls for snap polls yesterday, saying elections now would be “unnecessary and wrong”, ahead of what he called last-ditch talks to hold his embattled coalition together.

Netanyahu’s coalition was thrown into crisis on Wednesday after Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s resignation over a controversial Gaza ceasefire deal, leading to speculation over whether early elections have become inevitable.

After Lieberman’s withdrawal along with his Yisrael Beitenu party, Netanyahu’s government was left clinging to a oneseat majority in the 120-seat parliament. Key coalition partners say that is unworkable. –

Jerusalem