Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman
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."
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
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Ahead 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 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.Lieberman quits as Israeli defence chief, savages Gaza truceNetanyahu 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.Israelis call for Netanyahu to resign over Gaza truceGaza resistance factions announce ceasefire with IsraelHamas: We taught Israel a ‘serious lesson’
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"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.