Government minister Benny Begin may vote against a measure to disband the Knesset, he said in an interview with Makor Rishon this week. The measure to disband, which will officially open election season, is expected to be approved by MKs as early as next week, but Begin said he does not think holding elections in September, as is likely, is a good idea.

“It´s a mistake,” Begin said of the plan to move up elections. “The current administration has set a record for stability that has not been seen in the past 30 or 40 years. That´s my opinion and I am always open about my opinions with my colleagues, even if many do not agree with them.”

Reports Wednesday quoted Begin as lobbying fellow ministers and Likud MKs against the plan.

“This government can, and should, serve for its full 58 month term,” he said. Begin added in the interview that he himself might vote against the dissolution of the Knesset when the bill comes up, and he has been quoted by Knesset sources as having made the same declaration in conversations with ministers and MKs.

According to Begin, who spoke with several Kadima and Shas MKs about the matter, most of the Knesset is opposed to ending the current government as well. Shas MK Yitzchak Vaknin was quoted in the media as saying that if a secret ballot were held, 118 MKs would vote against the proposal, and Begin responded that he would vote against, secret ballot or not.

Regarding his own political future, Begin said he would decide after primaries are held in the Likud.(IsraelNationalNews © 2012 05/03/12)