LIEBERMAN, ISRAEL’S DEFENCE MINISTER RESIGNS OVER TRUCE WITH HAMAS

ISRAEL – Israel’s Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman has resigned. He tendered his resignation letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in protest over the decision of Israel to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas. The truce was brokered by Egypt and the United Nations.

Recent onslaught between Israel and Hamas had claimed over five people with several people injured. On the side of Israel, at least one person has been confirmed dead, with 70 others injured, two in serious condition when Hamas fired about 370 rockets into Israel. Israel responded by hitting 100 Gaza targets with four Palestinians reportedly killed in the strikes.

Israel agreed to the truce just as Hamas warned it would begin firing more long-range missiles towards the distant cities of Ashdod and Be’er Sheva if Israel continued the bombings.

“What has been happening so far is the traditional retaliation our enemy must have expected. In the next few hours, what our enemy can’t expect will follow,” the group said.

Lieberman has said he fiercely objected to Israel’s allowing Qatar to deliver $15m in aid to Gaza last week, adding that despite the difference in opinion, he tried to stay a faithful member of the government for as long as possible but it has failed.

“From my point of view there are two critical points that made it impossible for me to carry on; the $15m that went into the Gaza Strip taken in suitcases from Qatar … what would happen with the money after it has gone across the border.

“It went to the families of the terrorists who fought on the border with Israeli soldiers throwing grenades. These families are the first who are going to receive part of this $15m – in other words we are … giving terrorists money,” Lieberman added.

“The second point is regarding the ceasefire … I understand all of the reasons and all of the information [behind the decision], but I would not be able to look in the eyes of the people who are within the range of Hamas, who are taken prisoner by Hamas. Hamas has to understand that nobody should go close to the frontier.”