From the Liveblog of
Saturday, August 3, 2024
Lapid accuses PM of ‘delaying hostage return deal for only political reasons’
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “continuing to delay the deal for the return of the hostages for only political reasons.”
Lapid calls on the heads of Israel’s security establishment to “come out and tell the public the truth,” stating that “if the Israeli government has given up on the hostages, it should be honest with the families and stop playing games.”
According to press reports, senior defense officials and members of Netanyahu’s negotiating team have accused Netanyahu of taking positions which would “collapse the deal.”
An Israeli source is quoted by the Haaretz daily saying that today’s talks in Cairo failed to produce results and that “the very departure of the delegation to Egypt under these circumstances is the only good news.”
Mossad spy agency chief David Barnea, Shin Bet security agency head Ronen Bar, and Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories COGAT Ghassan Alian held meetings with senior Egyptian intelligence and military officials focused on the release of hostages, as well as security issues regarding the Egypt-Gaza border.
