"Prime minister will initiate the dissolution of the Knesset to take part in the elections and receive a clear mandate of the people's confidence to rule Israel," the press service said in a statement.
Netanyahu decided to run in the early parliamentary elections after he failed to settle the dispute inside the ruling coalition and had to dismiss his centrist partners – Finance Minister Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid ("There is a Future") party, and Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni, leader of Hatnuah ("The Movement") party. Both ministers have severely criticized Netanyahu's government and its policy lately, in particular, the controversial "Jewish state" bill that declared Israel a nation-state of the Jewish people, as well as the government's plans to increase defense expenditures.
"I will no longer tolerate an opposition within the government. I will not tolerate ministers who, from within the government, attack government policies and the person who leads the government," Netanyahu said in a statement, as quoted by the Times of Israel.
Elections are likely to be held in March 2015, according to Israeli media.
