PM says new elections if coalition can’t reach ‘complete solution’ on religious bill

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he isn’t seeking elections but that a fresh vote will be held if coalition parties can’t agree on legislation exempting ultra-Orthodox students from military service.

Speaking with reporters en route to New York, Netanyahu says he hopes “to continue with a stable government until the end of its days in November 2019.”

Laying out his conditions for avoiding elections, Netanyahu says any bill on ultra-Orthodox enlistment must be backed by the entire coalition and that all its members agree to remain in the government until the end of its term.

“I want to bring a bill with as wide as possible agreement that will be acceptable to the attorney general and that will pass with a [larger] majority than usual, but also to get a commitment from all the [coalition] partners that we’ll continue together until the end of 2019,” he says.

“[Only] a complete solution is acceptable to me, otherwise we’ll need to have elections. I’m not interested in that,” he adds. “With goodwill it is possible to reach a solution.”

He also calls on coalition parties to back off their respective ultimatums in order for the government to continue.

— Alexander Fullbright