Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his support for dispersing the Knesset (parliament) and conducting early elections amid a coalition crisis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a press conference at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, on Dec. 2, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

During a press conference at his Jerusalem office, Netanyahu also said he has ordered to fire Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who he said plotted against him by outspokenly criticizing his policies.

"I cannot lead the country within this current government," Netanyahu told reporters Tuesday evening. "From the get-go, this government was oppositional, it had frictions and opposite directions and it was run under threats and ultimatums," he added, saying Livni and Lapid have planned a coup d'état.

He mentioned Lapid's objection to the Israeli government's decision to expand settlements in east Jerusalem, and said Livni had met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in May, contrary to his instructions.

Answering a reporter who questioned why Netanyahu did not fire right-wing hardline ministers, like Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, who had slammed Netanyahu's conduct in the recent military campaign in Gaza, Netanyahu said the two stopped making such statements after they were called to order.

The prime minister also denied that he had asked ultra-Orthodox Knesset members to join the coalition instead of Yesh Atid party, as was reported in several media outlets.

Livni told Channel 10 news following the Prime Minister's speech that he is acting like a "coward" and busy with "petty politics" rather than facing the "major risks" Israel is facing, adding she hopes that the citizens of Israel "will see beyond this scheme."

Ministers from the Yesh Atid party, led by Lapid, convened Tuesday evening in Tel Aviv following the recent developments.

Science Minister Ya'akov Perry from the party told the Channel 2 news that Netanyahu made a "cowardly, hesitant" speech that shows he is hysteric and motivated by political motives.

Finance Minister Yair Lapid said earlier on Tuesday, prior to Netanyahu's statement, that the prime minister is dragging Israel to "unnecessary elections" for personal political gains.

According to a poll conducted by the Channel 10 news, 51 percent of Israelis object to conducting early elections, with the estimated cost of about 2 billion shekels (half a billion U.S. dollars.)

On Monday night, Netanyahu and Lapid met amid the recent strife in a "harsh" meeting, according to sources, in which the prime minister set stern conditions for Lapid to stay in the coalition.

Following the meeting, members of the Likud party said they would support the upcoming Knesset vote calling for early elections, initiated by the left wing Labor and Meretz parties. The voting will take place in several rounds on Wednesday and Monday.

The hard-line right and center factions of Netanyahu's government have been fighting over multiple issues, including the contentious Jewish Nation bill and other nationalistic law proposals, which Netanyahu's critics say are part of his efforts to win the votes of hard line Likud members amid the upcoming internal elections in the party.

In addition, there have been fights over Israel's expansion of settlements in east Jerusalem, the government's handling of the escalating security situation and the tensions over the holy site of Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as well as the collapse of the peace talks with the Palestinian Authority and the 2015 budget.

If a majority of the Knesset members will vote for early elections, the law states that the Knesset will be dispersed and elections must be held in three months.

Thus Israelis will have go to the polls and vote for a party, and then Knesset members will recommend a candidate most eligible to form a new government.

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