Gaza ceasefire maintained as Israeli government could collapse

Wednesday morning began quietly, but that same evening, Israel had a new Defense Minister: Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is already the Israeli Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and the Head of Communications. He won another title after the resignation of former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman to protest Netanyahu's policies, including his decision to agree to a ceasefire after the war. intense clashes between Israel and Hamas as well as other Palestinian militants.

This latest wave of violence, the most intense since the 2014 war, began on Sunday night after a botched intelligence gathering operation by Israeli intelligence services claimed the lives of 7 Palestinian militants and an Israeli commando killed. . On Monday, hundreds of rockets were fired at Gaza from Israel and Israeli air strikes destroyed buildings in Gaza. Seven other Palestinian militants were killed in Gaza, a Palestinian in Ashkelon and dozens more injured on both sides of the border.

Ashraf Amra / APAImages / Polaris

Netanyahu was forced to defend his decision to accept the hours of ceasefire after Israeli residents of Sderot protested, demanding tougher action against Hamas.

"I hear the voices of people in the south of the country," Netanyahu said at a commemorative ceremony honoring the country's founding father, David Ben Gurion. "Believe me, they are precious to me, their words penetrate my heart."

"In normal times, a leader must be attentive to people's hearts, and our people are wise, but in times of crisis, when making critical decisions in the security field, the public can not always be a partner in crucial considerations, this must be hidden from the enemy, "he said.

"Our enemies have pleaded for a ceasefire and they know very well why," added Netanyahu, using the global "ceasefire" for the first time since Sunday. After a seven-hour marathon cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Israeli government officials did not use the word, saying there would be calm unless an action "was required".

But a few hours later, Netanyahu lost his right-wing defense minister.

"I am here to announce my resignation from the post of Defense Minister of the State of Israel," Lieberman told a press conference Wednesday morning.

"It is no secret that there were differences between Netanyahu and me," he said, calling the ceasefire "surrender to terror," denying that He never supported it.

"I could not continue in my position. I can not look into the eyes of the southerners and the families of the kidnapped soldiers. "

Lieberman also said that he did not agree with the decision of Netanyahu's government to authorize the payment of money and fuel to Qatar last weekend to Gaza, used to pay the salaries of civil servants and provide the necessary electricity. Over the weekend, some neighborhoods in Gaza have enjoyed 8 hours of electricity, a massive triumph for many people. Lieberman also called for early elections.

Lieberman will return to the Knesset as a member, but his party, Yisrael Beiteinu, is no longer part of Netanyahu's ruling coalition, giving the prime minister a slim majority of 61 votes.

Likud, Netanyahu's party, said he could assume the responsibilities of defense minister, but officials of the party of Education Minister Naftali Bennett, Beit Hayehudi, told the press that he will withdraw his party unless the Minister of Defense is appointed from the coalition. Without Beit Hayehudi, Netanyahu's fourth government will collapse.

Thus, while the ceasefire is in effect with Gaza, Netanyahu's government may not last overnight.