(Ynet). The Yisrael Beiteinu party intends to demand that the ruling Likud party apply clause 11 in the coalition agreement, designating the toppling of Hamas' rule in the Gaza Strip as a strategic Israeli target.
The issue is expected to be raised in Yisrael Beiteinu's conference, to be held Wednesday. The party's chairman, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, will be seeking his colleagues' backing to lead the move.
Thus far, Israeli governments have refrained from declaring that toppling the Hamas regime is a strategic target for Israel. The Olmert government avoided such declaration even during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza about two years ago.
However, Lieberman demanded that the issue appear in the coalition agreement with Likud, and now aims to press the ruling party to apply the clause.
The diplomatic chapter of the coalition agreement asserts that "the government will work determinedly and regularly against terror groups threatening Israel and do everything needed in order to eradicate them. A strategic target for the State of Israel would be the toppling of Hamas' rule in Gaza."