Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem. REUTERS
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem. REUTERS
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem. REUTERS
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem. REUTERS

Israel's Netanyahu to hold 'decisive' meeting on coalition


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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will hold a "decisive" meeting on Sunday with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon in a final bid to avert early elections.

Mr Netanyahu's ruling coalition was left with a single seat majority in parliament after a walkout on Wednesday by defence minister Avigdor Lieberman and his hawkish Yisrael Beitenu party.

Mr Lieberman resigned over a Gaza ceasefire deal, which on Tuesday ended the worst flare-up between Israel and the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas since the 2014 war.

Mr Kahlon's centre-right Kulanu party holds 10 parliamentary seats and is vital to the survival of Mr Netanyahu's ruling coalition.

While the next elections are scheduled for November next year, Mr Kahlon has called for polls to be held "as soon as possible".

"I'm going to meet Moshe Kahlon before the weekly minister's council on Sunday for one last attempt to convince him not to bring down the government," Mr Netanyahu, who heads the Likud party, said on Saturday on Twitter.

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Read more:

Electoral pressure may push Israel into new Gaza attack, analysts say 

Pressure builds on Benjamin Netanyahu to call early elections

Israeli elections seem likely after Lieberman's resignation

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"We can't bring down a right-wing government. All members of Likud want to continue serving the state for another year."

Mr Kahlon, however, told Israel's Channel 2 on Saturday evening that he did not think it was possible to keep a coalition going with such a slim majority.

"We have to act responsibly," he said.

The prime minister held crunch talks on Friday with Education Minister Naftali Bennett, whose religious nationalist Jewish Home party has also threatened to quit unless he is given Mr Lieberman's job.

The party's eight parliamentary politicians are another crucial component of the premier's razor-thin majority.

On Friday, Mr Netanyahu said he was temporarily taking over the defence minister post.

Om Saturday, Mr Bennet told Israel's second channel that Mr Lieberman had "collapsed the government, there is no more government and we are heading towards elections - there is no other alternative".

"We have agreed with Moshe Khalon that there is no more government," he said.

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind

The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.

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Abu Dhabi GP schedule

Friday: First practice - 1pm; Second practice - 5pm

Saturday: Final practice - 2pm; Qualifying - 5pm

Sunday: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (55 laps) - 5.10pm

Final results:

Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)

Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)

Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)

Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)

Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)