World Bulletin / News Desk

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has announced his parting company with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and plan to dissolve the Likud-Beiteinu faction on Monday.

It was reported by Haaretz that Lieberman criticized Netanyahu's handling of the recent outbreak of tensions between Israeli authorities and Palestinians as well as Arabs living in Israel in a press conference.

"Disagreements between the prime minister and me are fundamental and do not allow for a future partnership," Lieberman was quoted saying by Haaretz.

"The partnership did not work during the elections, it did not work after the elections and to this day there were quite a few technical issues. When technical issues turn to fundamental ones there is no point in continuing," he added.

"I am not attacking the prime minister – he has the right to his views. I see matters differently and I don't hide it," Lieberman said.

However, Lieberman noted that the coalition government would continue to function along with his party and ministers.

Lieberman and far-right Economy Minister Naftali Bennett have been calling for a large-scale operaion in Gaza and have been at odds with Netanyahu, who early last week called for the government to be "level-headed and responsible" rather than inflammatory and brash."

The resignation of the Israeli Foreign Minister from the coalition looks set to hit Netanyahu's ruling Likud party hard, reducing their seats in the Israeli Knesset from 31 to 20, leaving them with only one mandate over the second largest Knesset party, Yesh Atid.