At the first set of negotiations since the coalition crisis erupted Saturday over the impending launch of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, officials discussed a number of potential frameworks that could prevent a premature election. Tourism Minister Yariv Levin (Likud) met with Finance Ministry Director General Shai Babad Sunday evening and discussed, among other things, that coalition members would support any changes proposed for the new public broadcasting body. They further discussed personnel changes, including the head of the IPBC, and Finance Ministry efforts to see to it that staff at the Israel Broadcasting Authority, the existing public broadcasting body, are fairly compensated. As one possibility, some IBA employees who have not been recruited by the IPBC may now be offered positions there if they have refused a voluntary resignation package. Levin and Babad decided that the directors-general of the communications and finance ministries would meet to discuss the details for an agreeable framework to solve the crisis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had announced Saturday that he would not hesitate to call an early election to prevent the launch of the IPBC, saying he has changed his mind about a deal he had struck with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon to let the new body start broadcasting in late April. On Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned, "One finance minister has already tested me," in reference to his conflict with Yesh Atid leader and former Finance Minister Yair Lapid, which prompted an early election. Speaking on Saturday night ahead of his departure for a state visit to China, Netanyahu said, "The government was founded upon coalition agreements that clearly stipulate that all parties must abide by the decisions made by Likud, by us, over media matters, and this extends to the closure of the IPBC." He explained that concerns over the IBA's budget were unfounded, as the organization has been streamlined, and the new IPBC would cost more annually to operate. He further noted that the IBA closure would leave many of the body's employees without work just before the Passover holiday. Speaking at a press conference Sunday with Education Minister Naftali Bennett, Kahlon addressed Netanyahu's remarks, saying, "At the time when a decision was made to shut down the Israel Broadcasting Authority and to establish the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, I was a private citizen, not a minister, nor a Knesset member. "At the moment, there are problems and there are some IBA employees whose issues have not been addressed completely and they've fallen between the cracks, but I do not need lessons or preaching from anyone about compassion. I am happy to see this sudden outburst of compassion that has become popular. IBA employees are not rivals or enemies, and they will receive care within the framework of resignation and the framework of greater recruitment to the IPBC. They are not unhirable and I will take responsibility to ensure that no IBA employee is cast aside." The coalition party heads have expressed opposition to early elections, calling on Netanyahu and Kahlon to resolve the issue. Bennett said, "Let's not take the country to elections because of a public broadcasting corporation." Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that "there is no reason to dismantle the coalition, and any intelligent person understands that an election is the last thing that the nation of Israel needs at this time. So, I hope that by the time the prime minister returns from China, a compromise of some kind is reached to allow for the normal functioning of the coalition." Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said that he spoke with the party leaders and that, when Netanyahu returns from China on Thursday, the forum of coalition heads will meet in an effort to reach a solution. In an interview with Channel 2 News, Deri said, "We will not take part in an alternate government. The Purim holiday has passed. The prime minister will return; we will put the party leaders in a room and tell them, 'Listen, fellows, we don't leave until we reach a solution.' Anyone who causes the dismantling of the coalition will bear the consequences." Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev (Likud) said, "There cannot be a situation where every time it comes to the Likud's coalition agreements, there is another excuse as to why they should not be implemented. We will blow it all apart not because of the IPBC, but because of the principle." On the other hand, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) said, "The elections have been set for November 2019. You do not hold elections for a media issue." Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel (Likud) added, "We have a strong right-wing coalition and there is no need to break the rules."
