Analysts, however, say Israeli response to Hamas’ massive rocket barrage was weak and that Liberman’s departure should ‘come as no surprise’
In a shock move, Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has announced he is resigning from his post after a bitter disagreement in the Security Cabinet. He stated his opposition to a recently forged cease-fire with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, despite the extensive rocket barrage from the coastal enclave into Israel’s southern communities.
Liberman’s departure has raised speculation over whether Israel has too easily given into Hamas’ demands, and over what lies ahead for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s government.
“I did not look for reasons to resign,” the former defense minister said on Wednesday during a press conference in Jerusalem. “What happened was a capitulation to terror. There is no other possible definition or meaning. What we are doing is buying short-term quiet at the cost of our long-term security.”
Liberman went on to reveal two factors that pushed him into resigning. “I did not agree to allow the entry of Qatari money; I thought it was a mistake,” he said, referring to the recent transfer of $15 million in cash from Qatar to Gaza. The second factor was the ceasefire agreement itself; Liberman charged that Israel reached it quickly without an adequate response to Hamas’ aggression.
Hamas, the Islamist terror group that rules the enclave, celebrated Liberman’s departure, calling it a “victory for Gaza.”
Maj. Gen. (res.) Eitan Dangot, a former Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, told The Media Line that the resignation should come as no surprise.
“It came because Liberman is not in agreement with cabinet policy in response to the escalation created by Hamas,” he told The Media Line.
“Hamas has not conceded anything besides promising to lower the violence around the border fence, and they [Hamas] are not even showing readiness to disarm their military wing or to plan for something medium or long-term,” Dangot added.
“Israel’s reaction [to Hamas] should have been stronger to create a better balance,” he said.
Pivoting to the political situation, Dangot added that “an election date will be decided in the coming days. The question now is: Who will the prime minister choose to replace Liberman?”
Communities in southern Israel saw almost 500 rockets fired from Gaza in 25 hours between Monday and Tuesday, the most to date that has been launched in such a short window. Over 100 projectiles were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, while many others landed in open areas. A few rockets managed to elude defenses and landed in civilian areas in the southern Israel, killing one and injuring dozens.
Beyond the former defense minister, many others harshly criticized the ceasefire agreement. Israeli citizens in the south staged mass protests, burning stacks of tires and blocking roads on Tuesday to protest any agreement with Hamas.
Dr. Kobi Michael, a senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies and former deputy director general at the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, echoed Dangot’s sentiments, saying the Israeli response to Hamas violence was lacking.
“I expected the Israeli response to be much tougher to deter Hamas,” Michael asserted to The Media Line. “From current circumstances, it appears that from now on, any time Hamas has any grievances regarding Israeli action they will open fire, launch rockets, and set a price tag [for peace].
“They understand that Israel is unwilling to enter into a broad military campaign and that it will allow them to remain rulers of the Gaza Strip,” he continued. “It is in Israel’s best interest to reach a truce and not to get involved militarily. Therefore, Hamas has increased its deterrence power while Israel has reduced its own.”
During the press conference regarding his resignation, Liberman urged politicians to set a date for national elections as soon as possible, allowing the public to decide the matter.
His resignation, along with the departure of his Yisrael Beiteinu party from the governing coalition, effectively leaves Netanyahu with 61 seats, a very slim majority in the parliament (which comprises a total of 120 lawmakers).
Analysts have speculated that the prime minister could simply absorb the defense portfolio into his already expansive list of government roles and continue his mandate, or he could call for early elections.
Another coalition partner crucial to the survival of Netanyahu’s coalition is the Jewish Home party (“Bayit Yehudi”) headed by Education Minister Naftali Bennett. The latter has also threatened to upend the government unless he is granted the defense post.