Israel’s army minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned on Tuesday afternoon from his post one day after a cease-fire was reached between Palestinian resistance factions and Israel.
He cited Tuesday’s ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip and Qatari funds for the blockaded Palestinian territory as reasons for his resignation.
“From my point of view there are two critical points that made it impossible for me to carry on; the $15m that went into the Gaza Strip taken in suitcases from Qatar … what would happen with the money after it has gone across the border” Lieberman said.
“It went to the families of the terrorists who fought on the border with Israeli soldiers throwing grenades. These families are the first who are going to receive part of this $15m – in other words we are … giving terrorists money” Lieberman added.
“The second point is regarding the ceasefire … I understand all of the reasons and all of the information [behind the decision] but I would not be able to look in the eyes of the people who are within the range of Hamas who are taken prisoner by Hamas. Hamas has to understand that nobody should go close to the frontier.”
“What we are doing now as a country is buying short-term quiet at the cost of our long-term security” he said. “I did not agree to allow entry of Qatari money [into Gaza] and I had to allow it only after the prime minister announced it.”
Ahead of his press conference Lieberman announced his resignation at a closed-door meeting of members of his Yisrael Beiteinu party according to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority.
“I am here to officially announce my resignation as defense minister” he was quoted as saying. “What happened yesterday — the agreement with Hamas — is a surrender to terror; there’s no other interpretation” Lieberman said.
The hardline army minister’s resignation could lead to the dissolution of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) according to sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
