Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, October 22, 2018. IMAGE: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST
In the evening of November 13, hundreds of Israelis were protesting against the reported ceasefire with Gaza.
Protesters in the town of Sderot were blocking roads and burning tires. Some of them chanted “Bibi go home,” using a nickname for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Confrontations were reported between protesters and policemen.
Police said they were working to restore order, saying they would “allow freedom of expression and lawful protest” but not “disturbance of public order, violence towards policemen and civilians and riots on major roads.”
Approximately 500 people took part in the protest according to reports. Hadashot TV news claimed that southern residents were planning further protests and road blocks in Tel Aviv on November 14th.
הדיווחים על הפסקת האש הוציאו עשרות מתושבי שדרות לרחובות. "ממשלה רופסת" הם קוראים pic.twitter.com/nKkfRNPZxw
— matan tzuri מתן צורי (@MatanTzuri) November 13, 2018
Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay expressed support for the protesters, saying it was a “justified” response to the government “forsaking” them. According to him, the government failed the southern residents by “neglecting” the issue of Gaza since the 2014 war.
He, however, did not extend hawkish calls. “This is not the time for another fragile truce,” he said. “This is the time for a true diplomatic initiative in Gaza, that will lean on the recommendations of the security establishment,” he said.
“Israel maintains its right to act. Requests from Hamas for a ceasefire came through four different mediators. Israel responded that the events on the ground will decide [if a ceasefire will go into effect],” an anonymous senior Israeli diplomatic official was cited by Times of Israel.
According to Channel 10 news on November 13th, at least four ministers opposed the decision for a truce during the security cabinet meeting. The report said Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Environmental Protection Minister Ze’ev Elkin, and Education Minister Naftali Bennett proposed an alternative response, but it was rejected by the other ministers.
An anonymous source told Times of Israel that no vote to determine next steps took place during the meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the security cabinet released a statement that read, “The security cabinet discussed the events in the south. The cabinet received briefings from the IDF and defense officials on the [IDF] strikes and widespread operations against terror targets in Gaza. The cabinet instructed the IDF to continue its strikes as needed.”
Hamas and other Gaza groups said that they had accepted an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel. Israel did not provide an immediate comment and the terms of the deal were undisclosed.
Terms of the deal appeared to be modest. Daoud Shehab, a spokesman for the Islamic Jihad militant group, said each side would promise quiet in exchange for quiet.
“It’s a mutual commitment to the cease-fire,” he said. “From our side, we responded positively to the Egyptian endeavor on the condition that the occupation does the same.”
Residents of Gaza started celebrations following the announcement. At a demonstration staged in the rubble of Hamas’ TV station, demolished by an Israeli airstrike, crowds chanted the name of Hamas’ military wing. Shops reopened and cars jammed the streets.
Ismail Radwan, a Hamas official, expressed Hamas’ commitment to the cease-fire but warned that “our hands are on the trigger” if Israel violates the agreement.
Al Jazeera cited Mohammed Daraghmeh, a columnist and political analyst, said this latest escalation could be an important moment in the future of the Gaza blockade.
“Both sides have realized that after a series of wars they need to have a different approach. After a period of calm in Gaza, Israel finally allowed Qatari money to be funneled to Gaza, to have oil imported, to offer some relaxation amid the blockade. This escalation has come at a critical moment.”
Thus, the 25-hour escalation that brought the Gaza strip on the brink of an all-out war ended, with Israeli protesters considering the ceasefire as a loss, while Palestinians view it as their victory.
Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on November 14th. According to him, the Egyptian-mediated ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza is “a capitulation to terror.”
“Despite the difference in opinion, I tried to stay a faithful member of the government for as long as possible … but it has failed,” Lieberman said. He said he also fiercely objected to Israel’s allowing Qatar to deliver $15m in aid to Gaza last week.
“From my point of view there are two critical points that made it impossible for me to carry on; the $15m dollar that went into the Gaza Strip taken in suitcases from Qatar … what would happen with the money after it has gone across the border,” the now former minister 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.”
Hamas called Lieberman’s resignation a “political victory for Gaza.”
Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said it marked “recognition of defeat and failure to confront the Palestinian resistance”, adding that “Gaza’s steadfastness sent a political shockwave” through Israel.
Lieberman’s resignation also shows that somehow the hawkish voices in the Israeli leadership are being silenced.
He must resigns his pathetic life together with all the zionists animals together
I bet he will be the next Israeli PM and will tear down the dome of the rock and build the new temple.
Lieberman’s idiotic statements, actions and arrogance got Israel in trouble with Russia, and the consequences of that fiasco has other cabinet members smarting out.
Great isn’t it…..the whole shit is coming down… Slowly Crumbling away…..
Friends of mine have recently said that ‘The situation in Yemen and Syria is terrible ‘, after the BBC showed a few reports af atrocities by US Coalition of Terror attacks.
I politely said that I have been saying this for years and finally you are realising that the US and FUKUS are not the ‘democracy loving community leaders ‘ that they pretend to be. .
Yeah the Mood is slightly changing…. perhaps there will come a time when people will fully understand what is really going on…they certainly will not be very amused when they do…
I hope people are furious when they recognise what NATO nations are doing :)
Cretin Lieberman dont understand and accept Israel limitations.
Love it! The guy irritated me with his loud mouth and tough- talking.
Libermans verbosity approaches that of Trump, they both run their mouth profusely before they think of saying something intelligent.
Maybe some of the Israeli elite realize that they won’t be able to rely on US all the time so they cut their losses short. Shame, seems as though Hamas was way more prepared this time around.
If Hamas is already this much of a headache for the IDF, Hezbollah is much more deadly.
Can it be… Is reality finally hitting the Israelis in the face?
Seems the Atgm attack on the empty bus of non -soldiers scared the Israelis.
Yes it did. I am sure they watched Houthi videos and thought of Hamas videos coming out like that for the world to see.
Wow! A few atgms brings down the might of the Israeli army! They must hate it ! The Philistines bring down David and his Sling! It gives hope to small nations against Self -nominated World Policemen,does it not? I have no great love of HAMAS but it is fine with me for them to humiliate the Israeli bullies.
The Arabs are growing up and becoming peer nations to Israel. Israel is uncomfortably trying to adjust to this new reality. If revisionist Zionism had a window of opportunity for success, that window has closed.
In all fairness, it the Shia who with amazing courage has set the template for how to fight and win future wars. Iranians, Syrians, Yemenis and above all Hezbollah are now in a league of their own and the Zionist scum know it. Next war, Hezbollah will be totally ruthless.
Another one that said assad must go is gone.
Hahahaha well done Bashar.
This seems to be the beginnings of the fall of the right wing policy hawks that follow the revisionist Zionist path. Wonder what likud will become shedding their Jabotinsky ideological foundation
This ugly coward Lieberman is a pretend Jew and wanted to send the child killer IDF into a disastrous urban combat which would have resulted in hundreds of Zionist cowards dead. Lieberman is a Russian welfare “jew” with no military experience.Even Nutter Yahoo, the chickenhawk knew the cost. Stalingrad, Iranian city of Khorramshahr are recent examples when invaders with hundreds of tanks were defeated by determined and motivated defenders taking advantage of the terrain in built up areas and not afraid to die . The Zionist military also chickened out because the cost of invading Gaza would have been too high in body bags coming home to the cowardly pretend Jew population accustomed to killing unarmed defenceless Palestinians. The Russian pretend Jew Lieberman resigned as even Nutter Yahoo saw the handwriting on the wall. The so-called IDF today is a worthless scum rabble of child killers, nothing else.
ISRAHELL IS BOUND TO FALL…
you will surely die soon, I pray for it every day
Go Fuck yourself Khazarian Cockroach… I pray for you motherfuckers to Die…. and it seems to Pay off Dickhead….My Magic up till Now Stronger than your Satanic Talmudic Babylonian Bullshit Bitch…
Futile he prays. Merijn has Devine protection. ;)
And magic :)
We will all die soon, life is short.
And when you pray to your golden calf, does he shit shekels all over you?
no, but you are added to the list now
Pro war protest in Israel? WTF ! Who are these animals.
Wow.. I have never heard of that before..”pro war protest”.. this is taking evil to whole new level..
That is an error in reporting. They were suppose to say “pre-emptive defense protest”
“Ayelet Shaked”.. Is this b*tch trying to make up for something? Sounds like she has daddy issues..
Some one correct me here…
illegal squatter scum have gone hesterical cos they never got a chance to bomb Gaza to rubble?
You know Israel is a retarded, barbarian war state when their fucking Environmental and Education ministers are part of the security/war cabinet. Fucking animals.
A joke!
Israel has to choose now – continue a path as before or strike a new one. Netanyahu’s late father was very hardline – no compromise, no peace possible with Arab savages, no territorial concessions. Netanyahu seems more pragmatic as a seasoned politician holding together a rambunctious coalition for nearly ten years.
The peace with Egypt is holding. The peace with Jordan is holding. The ceasefire with Syria held for over 30 years and it was not Syria that broke the ceasefire. True the Arab populations are not thrilled with peace with Israel, but Israeli policies are keeping the anger and resentment going. But that said, Israel’s geographic vulnerability is a reality and lack of strategic depth has led to aggressive policy including preemptive actions. This vulnerability due to the defining of borders of a state that is indefensible is a major error and this needs to be acknowledged and addressed if both sides are going to get anywhere in negotiating a lasting peace.
There will not be a lasting peace my friend. Either we will be put down, or Israel will be put down.
That has been the view since 1948. But now the peace could come because neither side wins, both lose where no one will be around to enjoy the peace created.
No one wants peace. We want what is ours, and they want what is ours. We will die trying to get it back, and they will run off to whomever will take them once it becomes clear we will get what is ours.
Maybe there will be peace now that Hamas can knock out their tanks? Israel must be pretty upset. Now where could those Hamas fellows have found a Kornet Atgm? Would n’t be Russia ,would it? Hahahah Putin strikes asynmetrically . Ilyushin plane 15 dead symbolically revenged!
Question is ,why didn’t Hamas knock out a tank and broadcast it ,Houthi style? Russia gave it to them on strict conditions ;no tanks, no major humiliating videos ?
Reports on this indicate Hamas wanted to make a demonstration of what could be. They video taped the bus showing they allowed the IDF soldiers to leave the bus, then they destroyed the bus. This sent a powerful message and I think shows Hamas are not ‘savages’. If there had been major casualties, retaliation would be without question the response. This warning allowed for Israel to respond conciliatory manner although cabinet split – major casualties would unite cabinet, Hams does not want that
Yet the driver and at least one soldier were killed? Fair enough. Fatalities were minimised.
Be aware all media is giving you a one sided story. https://www.facebook.com/nasdaily/videos/785813131570841/?t=0
Yes he is doing good work. Problem is the israeli gov isn’t. A pity.
Lost the war in Syria, and now even his invasion of Palestine has failed. The guy is a loser, nail him to a tree.
“Lieberman’s resignation also shows that somehow the hawkish voices in the Israeli leadership are being silenced.” I guess Lieberman is too bloodthirsty and crazy even for israeli government… or Bibi is just concerned with Killerman’s popularity, Doberman is not his dog any more, but his rival… Or perhaps Bibi made a deal with Putin a few days ago in Paris, Killerman was behind that ‘incident’ with russian plane; Erdogan sacrificed Davutoglu, and Bibi sacrificed Lieberman?
For the record, another report from Fox said that the cabinet met for seven hours and made no announcements, which obvious means they argued. Anyone have any illusions about how all this ends? Well, Hamas does if they really think Liebermann’s resignation means things are going their way (although I think that’s just trash talk).
Looks a loose canon.
Game of chicken, the Zionist criminals blinked first as the cost would have been too high.
Truce? Who broke the last one? Broken by those who recite Kol Nidre on Day of Atonement of course.