<span style="color: #222222;">Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman announced his resignation on Wednesday and called for early elections after a sharp disagreement over a Gaza ceasefire deal. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">He also said his party was quitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition, leaving the premier with only a one-seat majority in parliament. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Lieberman heads the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party, which holds five seats in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Elections are not due until November 2019, but Lieberman's resignation increases the likelihood of an earlier vote.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu has defended yesterday's ceasefire deal that ended the worst escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza since a 2014 war. </span><br />''