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Intel: How Israeli defense minister’s resignation is shaking up Israel, Hamas

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL - NOVEMBER 14:  (ISRAEL OUT) Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman speaks during a press conference at the Israeli Parliament on November 14, 2018 in Jerusalem, Israel. Lieberman has announced his resignation as Defense Minister of Israel as a protest against the cease-fire Israel agreed to with Hamas following recent heavy rocket fire targeting Israel from Gaza Strip.  (Photo by Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images)

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman resigned today and announced that his right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party was leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition. In a press conference, Liberman accused Netanyahu and his allies of surrendering to terrorism by agreeing to a cease-fire with Hamas and called for early elections as soon as next February.

Why it matters:  The resignation throws Israeli politics into turmoil and will almost certainly trigger early elections. Netanyahu must call elections by November 2019 at the latest, but the expectation now is that they will be held within the next three or four months.

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