Israel’s information minister resigns

By Said Amouri

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Information Minister Galit Distel-Atbaryan announced late Thursday that she intends to resign.

"I have decided to resign from my position as Minister of Information and I thank Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the trust he has placed in me," a statement released by her office said.

It marks the first resignation from the lineup of Netanyahu’s government since the latest escalation in Gaza.

“I return to serve you from the Knesset (parliament),” added the minister, who is a Likud party member.

The ongoing conflict began when the Palestinian Hamas group launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said it was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip in response.