Israeli splits turn toxic over its ‘forever war’
Netanyahu at odds with security services over increasing demands for ceasefire to free hostages
‘You have been running the negotiations by yourself. We learn of decisions only after the fact’
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU is facing a split with Mossad and the IDF over hostage negotiations as senior government figures openly row over ending the war in Gaza.
Disagreements between security services and the prime minister’s office over signing a ceasefire deal have been growing in recent weeks. They have also started to be leaked to the public through a campaign of toxic briefings.
Ministers have clashed in key security meetings, with reports of shouting matches and fists slamming on tables over the terms of an agreement that could free some of the remaining hostages. The splits at the top of government have intensified since last week’s killing of six hostages in a Gaza tunnel that led to mass protests and a general strike to stop the war.
The hostage negotiation team, run by David Barnea, the director of Mossad, and Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet security services, wants to strike a compromise deal with Hamas but has been frustrated by Mr Netanyahu.
“It’s clear that both the negotiation team and government are frustrated with each other,” an Israeli source privy to the ceasefire talks told The Telegraph.
“Books will be written” about the negotiations, the source added, and the general “mistrust” among everyone involved.
With the Oct 7 anniversary approaching and amid mass unrest, the intelligence chiefs want to reach a ceasefire and get the hostages out, a position the army also seems to have taken. But Mr Netanyahu has refused to give up on his most recent demand: full control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a narrow buffer zone separating Egypt from Gaza.
Tensions peaked in a security cabinet meeting last week, where Mr Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defence minister, reportedly engaged in shouting matches during a vote on whether Israel should keep control of the Corridor.
The verbal fight, leaked by Israel’s Channel 12, revealed how Mr Barnea let the cabinet know there wasn’t any “logic” to vote on the issue now.
“In any case, the negotiations are currently focused on (other issues) and not the Philadelphi Corridor,” Mr Barnea said, revealing the deepening divide between Mr Netanyahu and the negotiation team.
Herzl Halevi, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), also took issue with Mr Netanyahu’s insistence on keeping control of the corridor, saying the army would know “how to enter and return” to the corridor at the end of the first six weeks of the ceasefire. “There are enough constraints in the talks, you don’t need to add another,” Mr Halevi reportedly said.
Mr Gallant confronted the prime minister directly about whether he was willing to sacrifice the lives of hostages, asking him: “What about when 30 lives are at stake? What do you do?”
“I stay on the Philadelphi (Corridor). Only resolute negotiations will force (Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader) to fold,” Mr Netanuyahu reportedly replied. Mr Gallant accused the prime minister of “imposing” his position on the defence top brass.
“They had their own plan. You have been running the negotiations by yourself ever since the war cabinet disbanded (in June). We learn of decisions only after the fact,” Mr Gallant said furiously.
“The negotiators sketched the maps as you wanted, but they had a different position,” he added.
Mr Netanyahu then reportedly banged his fist on the table, calling for a vote on the corridor.
A spat also broke out between Mr Gallant and Ron Dermer, the strategic affairs minister, after the latter said the prime minister “can do whatever he wants”.
“The prime minister can indeed make all the decisions, and he can also decide to have all the hostages killed,” Mr Gallant replied sarcastically.
Critics claim Mr Netanyahu is blocking a deal so he can cling on to power. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said last week that the government was locked in a “forever war that has and will never have an end date”.
A senior Israeli official defended Mr Netanyahu and his insistence on keeping control of the border. They told The Telegraph that the issue of the Philadelphi Corridor was “agreed on” in the “bridging proposal” put forward by the US, Qatar and Egypt on Aug 16.
“Everyone understands Israel has to stay along the Philadelphi Corridor,” the official said.
The official also took issue with the IDF’S claim that Israel could retake control of the corridor at a later point if needed. “Well, we’ve heard that before and we’re not gonna fall for it again. We have paid too high of a price,” the official said.
As the internal bickering in Israel continues, Hamas has reportedly upped its demands for more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages.