Israel’s Foreign Minister, announced Monday that he was ending his party’s alliance with the ruling bloc after the Prime Minister refused to launch a full-scale attack on Gaza, reports The Times.
"Disagreements between the prime minister and me are fundamental and do not allow for a future partnership," the Jerusalem Post quoted Avigdor Lieberman as saying, after announcing the end of the Likud-Beiteinu faction within the ruling coalition.
"We remain loyal partners in coalition, and are the last who want to see it collapse," he added, confirming that he would remain as foreign minister.
On Friday, Mr Lieberman criticised Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to pursue talks regarding a ceasefire with Hamas, as a mistake:
Warning against ‘inflammatory’ rhetoric, Mr Netanyahu, in a cabinet meeting on Sunday, said,
"Disagreements between the prime minister and me are fundamental and do not allow for a future partnership," the Jerusalem Post quoted Avigdor Lieberman as saying, after announcing the end of the Likud-Beiteinu faction within the ruling coalition.
"We remain loyal partners in coalition, and are the last who want to see it collapse," he added, confirming that he would remain as foreign minister.
On Friday, Mr Lieberman criticised Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to pursue talks regarding a ceasefire with Hamas, as a mistake:
“A situation in which a terrorist group has hundreds of rockets which it can decide any moment to use is intolerable. It’s not clear what we are waiting for. At the end of 2015 [Hamas] will have thousands of rockets. We need to stop it,”
“We don't want to weaken the government or advance the election. But we do expect changes in the fight against terror."
Warning against ‘inflammatory’ rhetoric, Mr Netanyahu, in a cabinet meeting on Sunday, said,
“In these moments we must be level-headed and responsible. We will do everything possible to restore calm in the south [of Israel].”Mr Netanyahu privately described Mr Lieberman's comments as irresponsible and for political ends, The Telegraph reported.