What's Happening Another fragile truce between Israel and Hamas is threatening to take down the long-standing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a political perfect storm threatens to swamp his once-secure Cabinet. On Nov. 14, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned, saying "Tuesday’s cease-fire cannot be interpreted in any way other than a capitulation to terror." Lieberman took the five Knesset seats of his Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) party with him, bringing Netanyahu's coalition to the brink of collapse. The ruling coalition now controls just 61 of 120 seats, but Education Minister Naftali Bennett of the Jewish Home Party is threatening to bolt too if he's not given the vaunted defense portfolio. Why Now? Both Lieberman and Bennett are taking advantage of the political winds blowing against Netanyahu to prepare for a broader electoral challenge against the prime minister.