Avigdor Lieberman today announced his resignation as Israel’s Defence Minister and said that his Yisrael Beiteinu party is leaving the ruling coalition, in protest of the latest ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The announcement has led to speculation of early elections in Israel.
Mr Lieberman criticised the agreement with Hamas as “capitulation to terrorism” and urged Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to set a date for national elections “as soon as possible”. He added that in negotiating with Hamas, Israel was “buying short-term quiet, with the price being severe long-term damage to national security”.
Lieberman’s resignation will come into effect 48 hours after he submits a formal letter to Netanyahu. His Yisrael Beiteinu party will also leave the government, with Immigration and Absorption Minister Sofa Landver also expected to resign.
The departure of Yisrael Beiteinu from the coalition will leave Netanyahu with only a one-seat majority in the Knesset.
Elections are not due until November 2019, but Lieberman’s resignation increases the likelihood of an earlier vote.
Hamas has branded Lieberman’s resignation as a “political victory for Gaza, which succeeded in standing strong and causing a political earthquake in Israel”.
