Yisrael Beitenu party leader MK Avigdor Lieberman accuses the government of failing to act properly to rocket attacks. Lieberman, now a member of the opposition, feels the nation has lost its power of deterrence and ISIS and Hamas are unafraid of Israel today as a result. Likud officials responding to the attack insist this year the situation is quieter, insisting Lieberman’s statements are baseless.

Lieberman states “The Government of Israel is paying the price of its silence against Hamas”, adding the agreement reached with Hamas to end Protective Edge simply permits Hamas to renew and improve its terrorist infrastructure. He stated missile production in Gaza continue around-the-clock and Israel does nothing to prevent this.

“We are constantly telling the world to combat terrorism and here, we live with terrorism as if things are quiet. The situation is intolerable” Lieberman added, insisting the Hamas and ISIS are working together in Gaza stating “There is no love between Hamas and ISIS but their hate for Israel and [Egyptian President Abdel Fattah] al-Sisi is increasing”.

He feels that while terrorism hasn’t changed, Israel’s deterrence has, for the worse, since Operation Protective Edge. “There is no difference if the rocket fired yesterday, less than a year since Protective Edge, was fired by Salafis in Gaza or ISIS in Sinai”.

“Since the establishment of the state there have been threats against Israel, at times from Hizbullah, at times Hamas and each time another name. The blow to our deterrence results in being omitted in negotiations with Iran in Vienna, in Gaza and Sinai”.

Lieberman adds that in his viewpoint as a political analyst, the current coalition will not survive till the end of 2015. “You cannot pass a state budget being dependent on a single MK and his demands, at times justified and at times bizarre. To pass a complicated budget with a coalition of 61 MKs is not realistic”, citing the debate on the natural gas to make his point.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)