Israeli President Isaac Herzog, based upon the readout from his office on his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urged the latter to rise above internal objections and be prepared to make “painful” concessions. He stressed the urgency of securing a breakthrough in talks for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza when he meets with U.S. President Donald Trump. He stated: “I fully support these efforts, even when they involve difficult, complex, and painful decisions. The cost is not simple, but I am confident that the cabinet and the security establishment will rise to the challenge, as they have until now.”
Otherwise, Herzog wished the Doha negotiators success and called on “world leaders and international partners to use their full influence to help achieve a breakthrough. We have no time to waste.”
The Times of Israel speculates that Netanyahu’s “rare meeting” with Herzog, coming after his first visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz, hard-hit on Oct. 7, 2023, and not friendly toward Netanyahu, may be moves “aimed at building support across ideological lines as hawkish hardliners publicly oppose a Gaza agreement being pushed by the U.S. and seen as likely to bolt the coalition if the deal goes ahead.”
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, also according to the Times of Israel, told reporters, prior to the meeting of his “Jewish Power” Knesset faction: “We are praying for the prime minister’s success while visiting President Trump.” However, while he gives credit to Netanyahu for the decision to strike Iran, “on the subject of Hamas, he is still not doing what is needed to deliver us a decisive victory.... The time has come to focus solely on defeating Hamas. We must not be afraid, but go forward with all of our might.” Hence, regarding Washington’s deal: “We cannot agree to this deal. I love the hostages,” but deals for previous hostages “cost us an enormous price.” Ben-Gvir said that he’s successfully “prevented” previous deals and now calls on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to join him in preventing the current one.
