Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has authorized Israeli negotiators to travel to Cairo tomorrow night in efforts to advance a hostage-ceasefire deal, his office said in a statement, the Times of Israel reported last night. The statement apparently followed a very contentious security meeting during which security chiefs called on Netanyahu to accept the deal that was on the table. Times of Israel cited Channel 12 claiming that Mossad chief David Barnea, who has been leading Israel’s negotiations on a deal, said at the meeting that there is a deal ready, and that Israel must take it. In reply, Netanyahu shouted down his security chiefs, banged on the table, and told them they were lousy negotiators.
According to Channel 12, the discussion of opportunities for a hostage deal descended into a bitter argument, as follows:
Shin Bet head Ronen Bar: “I feel that the prime minister does not want the proposal that is on the table. If that is the case, tell us.”
IDF Gen. Nitzan Alon: “You know that all the parameters (that you recently added to Israel’s proposal from late May) will not be accepted, and there won’t be a deal. With what you’re saying, we’ve got nothing to go with [in the negotiations]. We’re at zero. “
IDF chief Herzi Halevi reportedly made similar comments to Alon’s.
Barnea: “There’s a deal. If we procrastinate, we could miss the opportunity. We must take it.”
Netanyahu, banging on the table: “You are weaklings. You don’t know how to run a tough negotiation. You are putting words in my mouth. Instead of pressuring the prime minister, put pressure on [Hamas Gaza chief] Sinwar.
The security chiefs left the meeting concluding that Netanyahu does not want a deal at this point, the TV report said. It quotes unnamed security sources saying he remains stubborn “even though we have made clear to him that the security establishment can deal with the consequences of a deal.” The unnamed sources are also quoted asserting, “He has given up on the hostages.”
The Prime Minister’s Office statement issued afterwards claimed that it is false to suggest that Hamas has accepted terms for a deal. The statement added that all the demands Israel is insisting on are “in accordance with the May 27 Israeli proposal.” Contrary to what is claimed, it says, Netanyahu “has not added a thing” to that proposal, whereas “Hamas is demanding dozens of changes.” It is “precisely because of a desire [for a viable deal],” the statement concluded, that Netanyahu has now instructed negotiators to travel to Cairo.
But Hamas dismissed Netanyhu’s statement. “Netanyahu does not want to stop the war and is using these empty statements to cover up his crimes and evade their consequences,” senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters.
