Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, is working to thwart the possibility of reaching a prisoner exchange deal and a ceasefire, based on the proposal to which Israeli officials described Hamas’ response, the day before yesterday, as the best so far, and after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to send... Mossad chief, David Barnea, traveled to Qatar to conduct negotiations on the proposal.

However, because of the opposition of Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and the entire extreme right, to any deal that ends the war on Gaza, “Netanyahu is still looking for a way that allows him to thwart the deal without considering that he is responsible for thwarting it,” according to the political analyst in the newspaper. Yedioth Ahronoth, Nahum Barnea, today, Friday.

Hamas' response sparked a "severe disagreement between Netanyahu and the leaders of the security apparatus, who see an opportunity for progress in the negotiations, while Netanyahu does not agree with them, and intends to thwart a deal in order to preserve his political survival because he fears dismantling his alliance with the extreme right, which would force early elections on him." ", according to the military analyst in the newspaper "Haaretz", Amos Harel.

In the past, the army had an influence on Israeli decisions like this, “and it still participates in the meetings in which decisions are made, but its voice has weakened. The army is insulted and denounced in political-security cabinet meetings,” according to Barnea.

Barnea added, “Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevy believes that what the army loses in the cabinet can be fixed in separate talks with Netanyahu. This is true up to certain limits. The army’s weakness is bad news for the kidnapped and their families, who cannot rely on the members of the cabinet. This is true.” Bad news for anyone who wants to reach an agreement that allows Israel to repair itself.”

He continued, "Halevy also became weak within the army. After the head of the Military Intelligence Division, Aharon Haleva, announced his resignation, Halevy decided to appoint the commander of the Operations Brigade on October 7, Shlomi Binder, to the position to succeed Haleva. Halevy insisted on his decision despite widespread opposition within The army because Bandar was responsible for the failure that led to the (Hamas) attack on October 7, as well as for the chaos on the first day of the war.”

Barnea revealed that “Halifa was asked to postpone his resignation, after the (results) of preliminary investigations were issued this week to the Office of the Chief of General Staff, and it became clear that Bandar is facing a problem and that there is a need to clarify matters regarding him.”

For his part, Harel pointed out that “Hamas’ response led to a rare consensus between Gallant and all the agencies dealing with the negotiations - the Israeli army, Mossad, Shin Bet, and the Center for Prisoners and Missing Persons in the army, headed by Nitzan Alon.

They do not ignore the gaps in the positions of the two sides (Israel and Hamas), but they believe that it is possible to bridge them

this time. The bottom line is that there is a deal on the table again.”

Harel added, "It is possible that an agreement could be reached within weeks, including the return of a portion of the kidnapped, in addition to an agreement to continue negotiations in the future to liberate the rest."

He pointed out, "In addition, the possibility may open here for quick negotiations on a northern deal, the goal of which is to remove Radwan's forces in Hezbollah beyond the Litani River, in the hope that this will be enough to convince most of the Israeli border residents to return to their homes. But the way to convince Nasr is May God grant the ceasefire in Gaza and the kidnapping deal, meaning an exchange of prisoners.