Positive statements from Egypt, the US don’t reflect state of Gaza negotiations, Israeli official cautions

Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter

An Israeli official cautions that positive statements coming from the US and Egypt seem designed to push talks forward instead of actually reflecting the state of negotiations, and that Israel is far more cautious in its assessments.

The arrival of top officials from the mediating countries is also not necessarily an indication of an impending deal, says the official, but is also designed to increase the chances of some sort of deal being signed.

The issue of the release of senior Palestinian terrorists including Marwan Barghouti is a major focus of indirect talks right now, according to the official.

The official also downplays reports that Israel is preparing for a potential visit by US President Donald Trump should an agreement be reached.

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