A report suggests that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disregarded the advice of his security chiefs in ordering a halt to Palestinian prisoner releases.
According to Walla news, Netanyahu made the decision during a meeting with Defense Minister Israel Katz, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Shas party leader Aryeh Deri.
But before the meeting, Netanyahu had held a security consultation with defense officials and other bureaucrats, and participants came away thinking the prisoner releases would be approved, the news site reports, quoting an unnamed Israeli official.
The source says politicians decided to take a stand given the fact that there was a “critical mass” of Hamas violations, including breaking a commitment it apparently gave mediators to cease such displays.
“Not only did the ceremonies not end, but they became even worse,” the source is quoted saying.
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