Zionist War Minister Resigns After Gaza ‘Defeat’
OCCUPIED AL-QUDS (Dispatches) – The occupying regime of Israel’s war minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned on Wednesday, potentially forcing a new election and creating a crisis within the Zionist cabinet.
Lieberman told his party, which is part of Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, that he intended to resign, highlighting his opposition to talks for a long-term ceasefire between the occupying regime and Hamas.
Lieberman made the announcement in a televised press conference after Tuesday's agreement to end a two-day escalation with Hamas which responded to Zionist attacks on Gaza with more than 400 rockets.
Tourism minister Yariv Levin called the resignation a "gift to Hamas" - a sentiment seemingly shared by senior Hamas political leader Sami Abu Zahri, who called it a "recognition of defeat".
Palestinians hand out sweets in Gaza City to celebrate the resignation in the context of the latest confrontation with the resistance.
Lieberman, well known for his extremist right-wing political stance, called for new elections - though Netanyahu's regime could technically continue to operate without Lieberman's party.
Netanyahu’s camp has already insisted that elections, due in 2019, do not need to be called at this point.
Netanyahu's regime would lose its majority if the so-called far-right Jewish Home party, led by firebrand education minister Naftali Bennett, withdrew from the coalition. It has threatened to do so if Bennett is not made war minister.
Netanyahu defended the ceasefire agreement during a speech on Wednesday as he faced mounting criticism, saying some security-based decisions had to be made without public involvement.
"I wish I could share with the citizens of Israel everything I know, but with the security of Israel – it is mostly hidden from view," he said.
The fighting exploded after an Israeli unit was exposed during a covert operation inside Gaza, leading to a shootout between Zionist troops and Hamas fighters, in which an Israeli colonel was killed.
The occupying regime used air support to withdraw its troops. Hamas responded with a barrage of rockets, injuring dozens of Zionists. It also targeted a bus carrying Israeli troops.
Lieberman told his party, which is part of Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition, that he intended to resign, highlighting his opposition to talks for a long-term ceasefire between the occupying regime and Hamas.
Lieberman made the announcement in a televised press conference after Tuesday's agreement to end a two-day escalation with Hamas which responded to Zionist attacks on Gaza with more than 400 rockets.
Tourism minister Yariv Levin called the resignation a "gift to Hamas" - a sentiment seemingly shared by senior Hamas political leader Sami Abu Zahri, who called it a "recognition of defeat".
Palestinians hand out sweets in Gaza City to celebrate the resignation in the context of the latest confrontation with the resistance.
Lieberman, well known for his extremist right-wing political stance, called for new elections - though Netanyahu's regime could technically continue to operate without Lieberman's party.
Netanyahu’s camp has already insisted that elections, due in 2019, do not need to be called at this point.
Netanyahu's regime would lose its majority if the so-called far-right Jewish Home party, led by firebrand education minister Naftali Bennett, withdrew from the coalition. It has threatened to do so if Bennett is not made war minister.
Netanyahu defended the ceasefire agreement during a speech on Wednesday as he faced mounting criticism, saying some security-based decisions had to be made without public involvement.
"I wish I could share with the citizens of Israel everything I know, but with the security of Israel – it is mostly hidden from view," he said.
The fighting exploded after an Israeli unit was exposed during a covert operation inside Gaza, leading to a shootout between Zionist troops and Hamas fighters, in which an Israeli colonel was killed.
The occupying regime used air support to withdraw its troops. Hamas responded with a barrage of rockets, injuring dozens of Zionists. It also targeted a bus carrying Israeli troops.