Netanyahu’s coalition faces major crisis over broadcaster

A serious crisis between Israel's ruling Likud party and Finance Minister Moshe Kachlon's Kulanu party threatens to break apart the coalition and bring about elections more than two-and-a-half years earlier than scheduled. The crisis was sparked by differences between Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and Kachlon regarding the closing of the country's Channel 1 and the establishment of a new broadcasting service. Top figures from Likud and other parties in the coalition including Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked have called on the prime minister not to dissolve the government.