Defense chief quits, pushing Israel to election
Decision cuts into parliament majority
JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday abruptly resigned to protest a new ceasefire with Hamas militants in Gaza, throwing the government into turmoil and pushing the country toward an early election.
Avigdor Lieberman’s decision was ostensibly a show of anger over Tuesday’s informal truce with Israel’s Hamas enemies. But in many ways, it was the opening round of a new political campaign.
His defection leaves Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the narrowest of parliamentary majorities — just 61 of 120 seats in his coalition.
In theory, Netanyahu can continue to govern until parliamentary elections scheduled for a year from now. But with another coalition rival, Naftali Bennett, threatening to leave the coalition if he doesn’t get the defense portfolio, the days of Netanyahu’s government appear numbered.
Here’s a closer look at the developments: NETANYAHU’S CEASE-FIRE After two days of heavy fighting, Netanyahu’s decision to accept the Egyptian-brokered truce was more than a case of cooler heads prevailing.
The longtime Israeli leader knows well that the military option has its limits. Israel has maintained a crippling blockade on Gaza and fought three wars against Hamas since the Islamic militant group seized power in 2007. This has inflicted heavy damage on Gaza, but Hamas remains firmly in power.
Ousting the group would require a military operation that could take months and cost the lives of thousands of Palestinian civilians and many Israeli soldiers. Reluctant to pay such a price, Netanyahu instead seems content to keep a weakened Hamas in check. BIBI’S BOUNCER Lieberman is a former aide to Netanyahu who has been both an ally and rival over the years. He currently heads Yisrael Beitenu, a small ultranationalist party that appeals to immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
A brawny former nightclub bouncer known for his sharp tongue and Russian-accented Hebrew, the Soviet-born Lieberman has sought to project an image as a gruff, tough-talking politician. At times, he has been critical of Israel’s Arab minority, liberal opposition groups and even Israel’s Arab ally Egypt. Sitting in the opposition, he once threatened to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh if he held the defense portfolio.
But as defense minister, Lieberman’s accomplishments remain limited, and Haniyeh is alive and well in Gaza. IS NETANYAHU THREATENED?
If Netanyahu calls early elections, opinion polls forecast a broad victory by his Likud Party and his hard-line partners, including Lieberman.
With his resignation, Lieberman appears to be positioning himself for elections by painting Netanyahu as soft and portraying himself as a defense hawk.
Bennett, another former Netanyahu aide who leads the religious Jewish Home Party, is likely to use a similar strategy. Like Lieberman, Bennett had favored tougher military action against Hamas. HAPPY HAMAS In Gaza, Hamas declared victory in the latest round of fighting, boasting that it stood up to the powerful Israeli military. Large crowds of supporters celebrated in the streets.
“The resistance has sent a clear message to the occupation that it can hurt them,” boasted Ismail Radwan, a Hamas spokesman.