Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said at a Likud party convention that the decision to bring forward the general elections was due to political extortion from his coalition partners.

"Our government has been the most stable one in dozens of years, but with the beginning of our fourth year we started seeing signs that it started to weaken," Netanyahu said.

He explained that "Political instability attracts extortion and populism, and these are damaging the security, economy and society. "

Although Netanyahu did not announce the exact date for the elections, he said they will be held in four months.

Netanyahu's rationale for advancing the elections concerns a bill advocating mandatory military or national service for Jewish religious students, which is being pushed for a parliamentary vote in May.

Netanyahu's senior coalition partner, the Yisrael Beiteinu party, is behind the so-called "service for all" law, which sets it in confrontation with the ultra religious Shas party, another vital partner in the coalition.

Soon after announcing the early general elections, Netanyahu took the opportunity to diminish his political rivals and challengers from the opposition.

"In the current security, diplomatic and financial reality we are facing... the state of Israel cannot afford an inexperienced prime minister," Netanyahu said.