Israeli Defence Minister Quits over Gaza Truce in Blow to Netanyahu

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15 November 2018 09:31 WIB

A Palestinian gestures as he holds sweets during a rally celebrating the resignation of Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, in Gaza City November 14, 2018. "Were I to stay in office, I would not be able to look southern residents in the eye," Lieberman told reporters, referring to Israelis subjected to a surge in Palestinian rocket attacks before Tuesday's truce took hold. Lieberman said his resignation, which will go into effect 48 hours after he submits a formal letter to Netanyahu, also withdraws his far-right Israel Beitenu party from the coalition. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

15 November 2018 00:00 WIB

Palestinian demonstrators burn a banner showing a representation of an Israeli flag and a picture of Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman during a protest in the southern Gaza Strip, April 13, 2018. Picture taken April 13, 2018. Netanyahu will take over the defence portfolio himself, his party said. The loss of Israel Beitenu's five seats will leave him with control of just 61 of the 120 seats in parliament, a year before Israel's next election. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

15 November 2018 00:00 WIB

Palestinians burn pictures depicting Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman as they celebrate after Lieberman announced his resignation, in Gaza City November 14, 2018. Political commentators had speculated that Netanyahu, who has high approval ratings despite being dogged by multiple corruption investigations, might bring forward the ballot. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

15 November 2018 00:00 WIB

Palestinians burn a poster depicting Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman as they celebrate after Lieberman announced his resignation, in Gaza City November 14, 2018. They also saw in Lieberman's decision to quit a bid to poach votes from Netanyahu and far-right cabinet rival Naftali Bennett of the Jewish Home party, ahead of an election. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

15 November 2018 00:00 WIB

A Palestinian offers sweets as people celebrate after Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation, in Gaza City November 14, 2018. Netanyahu's Likud played down the option of an early poll. "There is no need to go to an election during what is a sensitive period for national security. This government can see out its days," party spokesman Jonatan Urich said on Twitter. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

15 November 2018 00:00 WIB

A Palestinian burns a poster depicting Israel's Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman as they celebrate after Lieberman announced his resignation, in Gaza City November 14, 2018. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday in protest at a Gaza ceasefire that he called a "capitulation to terror", weakening Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative coalition government. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

15 November 2018 00:00 WIB