Netanyahu okays departure of Shin Bet, Mossad officials to further hostage talks in Cairo, Doha

By Lazar Berman

You will receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

You will no longer receive email alerts from this author. Manage alert preferences on your profile page

29 March 2024, 3:37 pm

10 Edit

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

File - Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet security services, left, and Mossad chief David Barnea at the annual IDF Armored Corps memorial ceremony, marking the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, in Yad La-Shiryon, on September 27, 2023. (Jonathan Shaul/Flash90)

After Hamas rejected compromises hammered out by Israel, Qatar, Egypt and the United States in Doha earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves a high-level delegation to continue talks in the coming days, the Prime Minister’s Office says in a statement.

Netanyahu speaks with Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar to tell them that they will have “room to operate” in upcoming negotiations in Cairo and Doha.

Israel will send Shin Bet and Mossad officials to conduct the negotiations in Cairo. Barnea and Bar are not expected to attend the talks there, but they may join consultations in Doha later on.

A mid-level Mossad team has remained in Doha since Barnea flew back to Israel earlier this week.