Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs Chinmaya IAS Academy – Current Affairs
Related Articles
Resignation comes even as the truce with Hamas holds
Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday and called for early elections after a sharp disagreement over a Gaza ceasefire deal, throwing the government into turmoil. Mr. Lieberman also said his party was quitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, leaving the Premier with only a one-seat majority in Parliament. Mr. Netanyahu has defended Tuesday’s ceasefire deal that ended the worst escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war. The ceasefire held on Wednesday, but Mr. Netanyahu was seeking to combat criticism of the decision. Beyond Mr. Lieberman’s resignation, several hundred Israelis living near the border with Gaza protested on Tuesday night. Hamas portrayed the ceasefire as a victory and thousands of residents of the blockaded enclave took to the streets late Tuesday to celebrate. In a statement on Wednesday, Hamas called Mr. Lieberman’s resignation a “victory for Gaza“. A diplomatic source said the ceasefiire involved returning to arrangements put in place following the 2014 war, but warned: “The situation remains very precarious and can blow up again.”
