After an Israeli attack caused seven Palestinian and one Israeli soldier deaths last week, leading to a tense scenario of strong fighting with Palestinian militants in the Gaza strip, Israeli cabinet decided to accept an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire, already accepted by Hamas and other Palestinian factions, ending these two day fighting. As a response to this move, and in a motion of criticism towards this decision, Israeli defence minister Avidgor Lieberman resigned from office on 14 November, alleging that “we are buying quiet for the short term at the price of serious damage to national security in the long term”. He denounced the move as “surrendering to terror”, adding that the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, which he belongs to, would leave the ruling coalition government, whose majority has been whittled down to a single seat. Netanyahu is now awaiting the outcome of the motion to dissolve the parliament that this party will vote on Wednesday. After that move, on Sunday 18 November, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to bring forward the elections and dissolve the Kneset, as requested by 4 of the 6 parties that are part of the government coalition. He alleged that holding snap elections now would be “irresponsible” taking into account the “period of sensitive security”. He warned that it could result in a left-wing administration taking control, in an attempt to dissuade his right-wing allies. He also announced that he will assume the defence portfolio, recalling its military achievements. This decision may have exacerbated the government crisis, as the right-wing Jewish Home party said that it may leave the coalition unless Education Minister Naftali Bennet, its leader, replaced Lieberman.