Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu seeks early general election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sacked his Finance and Justice Ministers and declared he wants parliament dissolved, triggering an early general election.

Mr Netanyahu said the two ministers, Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni, had harshly attacked him and the coalition government.

Mr Netanyahu explained that he wanted an election two years early to win a clear mandate to lead Israel.

Disagreements over a series of economic and political policies have strained relations within the coalition.

Speaking at a news conference, Mr Netanyahu said it is impossible to lead the government with the current opposition within it.

BBC