Israel's Netanyahu accepts compromise, avoids election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anunced Sunday that he has accepted a proposal to extend budget negotiations, preventing government from collapsing and plunging country into a new election.

In a nationally televised address, Netanyahu said that w was t time to drag country into an unwanted election.

"w is time for unity. It's t time for elections," he said.

Netanyahu and his rival and coalition partner, Benny Gantz, had faced a Monday night deadline to agree on a budget.

Orwise, government would have collapsed and automatically triggered a new vote, which would have been fourth parliamentary elections in less than two years.