BY NORMAN BAILEY
The chaos of the region makes predictions difficult but Israel could become a key strategic ally for Gulf states
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman resigned from his post today and said his Yisrael Beitenu party was leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition in protest over Tuesday's cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Liberman argued that the cease-fire “cannot be interpreted in any way other than a surrender to terror,” adding that it “will severely harm our security in the long term.” The Israeli military declared a “return to normalcy” in southern Israel on Tuesday after Egypt and the United Nations mediated the cease-fire.
The latest spat of cross-border violence was the largest since the siege of the Gaza Strip began, with 460 rockets and mortar shells bombarding southern Israel, prompting the Israeli military to retaliate by striking 160 targets in the strip. Israeli residents of border communities are blocking Gaza’s Kerem Shalom commercial crossing and burning tires to protest the security situation.
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An Israeli military victory in Gaza is a loss for Israel because it would either have to rule the enclave or risk a more radicalized group like ISIS taking over, former US negotiator Dennis. Ross told The Jerusalem Post, adding that an extended period of calm at this point is the best outcome for both Israel and Hamas. – Jerusalem Post
Hamas “begged” for a cease-fire, and “they know very well why,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday morning, in his first public statements since the government agreed to a cease-fire in the South that went into effect on Tuesday evening. – Jerusalem Post
Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday announced a special faction meeting of his Yisrael Beytenu party at noon, after which he is expected to deliver a statement to the media, sparking rumors he could resign over the reported ceasefire with Hamas. – Times of Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets today with Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the head of the hard-line Jewish Home party, in an effort to salvage his right-wing coalition amid a backlash to the cease-fire with Hamas. Netanyahu's coalition has only a one-seat majority in the Knesset after Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman resigned earlier this week. Jewish Home is threatening to leave the coalition unless Bennett is appointed defense minister.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Israelis living in southern border communities demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Thursday against the record number of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip earlier this week. Palestinians have been mounting their own protests at the Gaza border fence every Friday for the past several months. Read More