Hamas abides by cease-fire, restrains protests
AP
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(Photo: AP)

The Latest on the political developments in Israel (all times local):

5:35 p.m.

Gaza’s Hamas rulers are sticking to cease-fire with Israel by keeping border protests widely restrained.

Thousands of Palestinians participated Friday in a Hamas-organized rally along the perimeter fence dividing Gaza from Israel, with crowds staying at least 300 meters from the fence.

However, Gaza’s health ministry said 40 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli fire and tear gas, without giving a number breakdown. Witnesses said most of the injuries occurred in stone-throwing incidents at the usual five protest locations.

No tire burnings or attempts to breach the fence were reported. Such acts have often triggered lethal Israeli army fire. Since the near-weekly protests began in March, more than 170 Palestinians have been killed.

Earlier this week, Hamas and Israel fought a cross-border battle of rocket attacks and airstrikes, triggered by a botched Israeli undercover raid in Gaza. An Egyptian-brokered cease-fire ended the two-day flare-up.

3:55 p.m.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main coalition partner is seeking elections “as soon as possible” and wants a date set on Sunday.

The statement by a senior official in the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home party of Education Minister Naftali Bennett came after his meeting with Netanyahu on Friday.

Bennett had reportedly sought the job of defense minister after the incumbent, Avigdor Lieberman, resigned earlier this week, in protest over Netanyahu’s Gaza policy.

The Jewish Home official said it became clear after the Bennett-Netanyahu meeting that there “is a need to go to elections as soon as possible.” He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was discussing the content of a closed meeting.

The official said leaders of coalition parties will meet Sunday to coordinate the date for early elections.

11:20 am.

Israel’s outgoing defense minister says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to accept an informal truce with Gaza’s Hamas rulers amounts to “utter capitulation to terrorism.”

Avigdor Lieberman, who quit over the cease-fire, told the Yediot Ahronot daily in remarks published on Friday that he would’ve opted instead for punishing airstrikes, “without the need for a ground incursion” into Gaza.

The Egypt-brokered truce was reached after two days of cross-border fighting between Israel and Hamas that had been triggered by a botched Israeli undercover raid in Gaza.

Lieberman’s resignation left Netanyahu’s ruling coalition with a one-seat parliamentary majority, increasing the likelihood of early elections.

Later Friday, Netanyahu was to meet with Jewish Home party leader Naftali Bennett, who has threatened to topple the government if he is not named defense minister.