Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday defended a cease-fire agreement with Palestinian resistance factions in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
“At these times, the true leadership does not do the easy thing, but the right thing, even if it is hard,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“The leadership always stands up to criticism when you know things that are secret and difficult,” he said.
Scores of Israelis demonstrated outside the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on Wednesday to demand Netanyahu’s resignation, accusing him of “betraying” the people of southern Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday resigned from his post, one day after a cease-fire was reached between Palestinian resistance factions and Israel."I didn't look for reasons to quit," Lieberman told a press conference.He cited Tuesday’s ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip and Qatari funds for the blockaded Palestinian territory as reasons for his resignation."What we are doing now as a country is buying short-term quiet at the cost of our long-term security,” he said. "I did not agree to allow entry of Qatari money [into Gaza], and I had to allow it only after the prime minister announced it."Israelis call for Netanyahu to resign over Gaza truceAhead of his press conference Lieberman announced his resignation at a closed-door meeting of members of his Yisrael Beiteinu party, according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority."I am here to officially announce my resignation as defense minister,” he was quoted as saying. “What happened yesterday -- the agreement with Hamas -- is a surrender to terror; there’s no other interpretation,” Lieberman said.The hardline defense minister’s resignation could lead to the dissolution of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), according to sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Palestinian resistance group Hamas has hailed Lieberman’s resignation as a “political victory” for the Gaza Strip.Israeli PM defends Gaza ceasefire deal"Lieberman’s resignation is a political victory for Gaza, whose steadfastness has succeeded in causing a political shake in the [Israeli] occupation arena," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said on Twitter."[The resignation] is also a sign of defeat and helplessness in the face of the Palestinian resistance," he added. Since Sunday, at least 14 Palestinians have been martyred -- by Israeli airstrikes and artillery -- across the blockaded Gaza Strip. At least one Israeli officer was reportedly killed and another injured.Late on Tuesday, an Egypt-brokered truce was reached between Israel and the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance factions. 
Israel’s Lieberman resigns as defense minister
Netanyahu said that Palestinian group Hamas “begged” for a cease-fire, saying “they know very well why”.
The Egypt-brokered cease-fire deal has already met opposition from four Israeli ministers, including Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
The agreement came after at least 14 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the blockaded Gaza Strip since Sunday after rocket fire from the seaside territory.
At least one Israeli soldier was reportedly killed and another injured in the violence.
Since March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire -- and thousands more injured -- while taking part in ongoing rallies along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.
Scores of Israelis rallied outside the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) in Jerusalem on Wednesday to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a cease-fire deal with Gaza-based Palestinian factions.Protesters denounced Netanyahu’s decision to approve the Gaza cease-fire deal, amid accusations for him of “betraying the people of southern Israel”.The protest came one day after Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza announced an Egypt-brokered cease-fire agreement with Israel.Israeli defense minister to make statement, may quit over GazaFour Israeli ministers, however, have announced their opposition to the deal, including Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.The agreement came after at least 14 Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the blockaded Gaza Strip since Sunday after rocket fire from the seaside territory.At least one Israeli soldier was reportedly killed and another injured in the violence.Since March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire -- and thousands more injured -- while taking part in ongoing rallies along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.Settlers vandalize Palestinian vehicle in West BankJewish religious candidate elected Jerusalem's mayor
Israelis call for Netanyahu to resign over Gaza truce
An Egypt-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has finally been reached following weeks of intense shuttle diplomacy by Egyptian officials, Gaza-based resistance factions announced Tuesday evening.“Egyptian efforts have succeeded in hammering out a ceasefire between the resistance and the enemy [i.e., Israel],” the factions declared in a joint statement.“The resistance will commit to the terms of the agreement as long as Israel does the same,” the statement read.The Israeli cabinet, for its part, has instructed the army to continue military operations in Gaza “as necessary”, according to an official statement.Video: Israeli jets destroy HQ of Hamas-run TV stationThe announcements come following two days of military escalations between Israel and Palestinian resistance factions. Since Sunday, at least 14 Palestinians have been martyred -- by Israeli airstrikes and artillery -- across the blockaded Gaza Strip.On Sunday night, seven Palestinians were martyred, including a senior Hamas commander, in a botched Israeli ground incursion inside the Gaza Strip.Hamas: We taught Israel a ‘serious lesson’At least one Israeli officer was reportedly killed and another injured during the deadly raid. The Israeli army claims the attacks are in response to rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel.Since March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire -- and thousands more injured -- while taking part in ongoing rallies along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.
Gaza resistance factions announce ceasefire with Israel
Hamas organization spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Tuesday the resistance in Palestine gave something serious for Israel to think about."We taught Israel a serious lesson. This is a message to Israel,” said Abu Zuhri. “The attitude of the resistance groups will be determined according to the behavior of Israel.”He comments were delivered in a speech in Algeria during a solidarity demonstration with Gaza held by the Movement of Society for Peace, the largest party with Islamic affiliation in the north African country.Following increasing escalation in the region, Palestinian resistance groups Tuesday announced a truce with Israel under Egypt's mediation.Palestinian gov’t freezes social security lawAfter Israeli attacks on Gaza on Monday, seven Palestinians were killed and 25 others wounded. Rockets fired by the Palestinian groups in Gaza killed an Israeli officer and injured 50 others.A group of soldiers from the special forces affiliated with the Israeli army on Sunday infiltrated Gaza by a civilian vehicle.Israeli troops were noticed by the forces affiliated with Hamas after entering 3 kilometers (2 miles) into Gaza, triggering the armed conflict that resulted in the martyrdom of the Palestinians and the death of the Israeli soldier.The hext day, the Palestinian resistance groups, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, carried out rocket strikes, severely wounding an Israeli soldier.Hamas says holding contacts to halt Israeli attacksThe Palestinian groups announced the attack, which hit a bus in Israel, was a retaliation to avenge a lost member who embraced martyrdom Sunday.Following the incident, Israel commenced airstrikes on Gaza and Palestinian groups responded with rockets.Since March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred by Israeli army gunfire -- and thousands more injured -- while taking part in rallies along the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.Gaza groups warn Israel over attacks on civilian homesIsrael dispatches tanks to Gaza border as tensions rise
Hamas: We taught Israel a ‘serious lesson’