Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu yesterday (Sunday) held a discussion on the subject of the abductees together with the negotiation team and senior security officials. After the discussion, Netanyahu ordered the sending of a negotiating delegation next Thursday to Doha, Qatar. Sources privy to the details stated that the meeting with the prime minister lasted for many hours, during which it was decided to move forward with negotiations on the 29 comments that Hamas submitted to the outline. “There was a positive meeting,” it was said. “The negotiating team received permission to move forward and will convey Israel’s response. The instructions given by Netanyahu are clear, and the Israeli agreements have been solidified.”
Defense Minister Yoav Galant welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to send the negotiating team to resume talks in order to return the abductees home. He added: “Prime Minister, good luck on your important trip to the USA – our main ally. Following the operational achievements in the war, the conditions have been created and there is a window of opportunity limited to the outline for the release of the abductees. Even if there are disputes, the entire security system supports you in the task of reaching an agreement.”
Netanyahu will take off Monday morning for a political visit to the USA, which will include a speech before both houses of Congress on Wednesday at 9:00 pm (Israel time) and a meeting with President Biden at the White House, most likely on Tuesday at noon if there are no changes in light of President Biden’s announcement this evening about his withdrawal from the presidential race Among the topics to be discussed at the meeting – the hostage deal.
Representatives of abducted families held a protest before Netanyahu’s trip. “Our brothers and sisters are kidnapped in Gaza, and this government is not releasing them. We came to remind Netanyahu before the trip that this is his duty, this is his job. We must release them, announce that Netanyahu is signing a deal while still here, and sign immediately when he lands there. It must not be delayed any longer,” they said.
Officials in the defense cabinet, including the head of the Mossad David Barnea and the head of the Shin Bet Ronan Bar, recently expressed their position that a deal can be implemented – and the security establishment will know how to deal with its consequences.
