(VOVworld) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Tuesday for an early election after sacking two senior cabinet ministers from his divided government: Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a ceremony in Jerusalem on December 2, 2014 (Photo: AFP)

The Yesh Atid party criticized Netanyahu's decision, saying he has failed to run the country and resolve issues to the benefit of the Israeli people and calling firing the two Ministers a step backward. Other Yesh Atid party members - the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Science and Technology and the Minister of Welfare and Social Services resigned in protest. Earlier, parties in Israel’s ruling coalition failed to agree on several important issues including the budget for 2015, social policies, anti-terrorism policies, and diplomatic policies.

Israel’s parliament called a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the date of the upcoming general election.