In an emergency cabinet meeting held late Wednesday Israel considered calling for the establishment of an emergency government as the fighting in Lebanon escalates.
Political sources say the prime minister has not made it clear if he will ask Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman to join, but may do so if the situation worsens. Knesset Members from a number of different parties have urged him to do so in this security situation.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not ruled out the possibility, but said that now is not the time to deal with political, parliament and coalition interests.
It is believed that Olmert will ask Netanyahu and Lieberman to join the government until the military operation in Lebanon ends. Netanyahu told Israel’s Channel 2 that he would consider joining if asked.
The only other time an emergency government was formed was in 1967 during the Six Day War. Levi Eshkol, prime minister at the time, formed such a government.