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Israeli Defence Minister quits, claiming ceasefire with Hamas is a ‘surrender to terrorism’

The right-wingers resignation could bring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government close to collapse

ISRAELI Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned today in protest against the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Hamas, bringing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government close to collapse.

After two days of bloodshed, in which Israeli warplanes killed six Palestinians and Hamas fired hundreds of missiles into southern Israel, Mr Lieberman said he could no longer serve a government that endorsed the ceasefire and that the agreement amounted to a “surrender to terrorism.”

“What happened yesterday,” he said during a televised conference, “the truce combined with the process with Hamas, is capitulating to terror. It has no other meaning.

“What we're doing now as a state is buying short-term quiet, with the price being severe long-term damage to national security.”

Mr Netanyahu defended the Egyptian-brokered deal in a speech today, saying he understood the criticism while being unable to reveal all of its details for national security reasons.

“I see the big picture of Israeli security that I cannot share with the public," he said.

“Our enemies begged for a ceasefire and they know well why. I cannot detail our plans for the future. We will dictate the time and circumstances that are right for Israel and are right for the security of our people.

“In times like these, leadership is not doing the easy thing. Leadership is doing the right thing, even if it is hard. Leadership is sometime facing criticism," he added.

Mr Lieberman’s resignation sparked calls for an early election from both opposition and coalition parties. 

Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party would still have a one seat-majority in the Knesset were Mr Lieberman’s nationalist party Yisrael Beiteinu to pull out of the coalition.

However, should the far-right Jewish Home party quit, as leader Naftali Bennett has indicated it will do should he not be appointed the next defence minister, then Likud’s majority will collapse.

Hamas claimed Mr Lieberman’s departure was a “political victory for Gaza.”

"Lieberman's departure is recognition of defeat and failure to confront the Palestinian resistance," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. “Gaza's steadfastness sent a political shock wave.”

Meanwhile Gazans continue their weekly protests at the border with Israel for their right to return and risk being shot by Israeli snipers, who have killed around 170 unarmed people during the protests so far. 

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