The chairman of the Bayit Yehudi party, Minister Naftali Bennet, remains an outspoken opponent of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, warning such an agreement will only permit Hamas to continue rearming and improving its military capabilities, and will lead to the next war.

Egypt has been acting as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and has reportedly brokered a one-year ceasefire agreement between the two. Only following the implementation of the agreement, will talks begin towards the return of the Israelis held hostage by Gaza as well as the return of the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers.

Bennet has spoken out against the plan and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, telling Yediot Achronot that Lieberman gave in, insisting it is a bad deal and a bad move, that will lead to war. He spoke of how Lieberman spoke prior to assuming his senior cabinet role, vowing to eliminate the leaders of Hamas and bring the terrorist organization to its knees, and now, instead of making good on the promise, he is rewarding Hamas for the last round of rocket fire into Israel.

Lieberman last week already commented on Bennet’s opposition to the ceasefire, stating, “Criticism is a good thing – it indicates my strength. I do not have time to deal with nonsense like the song ‘Parole Parole’, let’s talk about serious things”.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)