Sense of ‘dissonance’ in Israel after seeing captives released by Hamas: Ex-Israeli negotiator
Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator and president of the US/Middle East Project, tells Al Jazeera the footage of the Israeli captives being released by Hamas fighters who appeared to be in full control of the situation on the ground and were welcomed by the Palestinians in Gaza contradicts what has been presented to the Israel public.
“We were told that even if one fighter with one arm were able to raise two fingers, that would upend Netanyahu’s victory narrative,” he said.
“But here we have it – a Hamas that has stood up to everything and is still very much the strongest force on the ground and a Palestinian public that has been so resilient,” Levy said.
He noted that this had left a sense of dissonance in Israel between what the public has been told about Israeli military successes and “the reality they see with their own eyes”.
The joy in Israel at seeing the captives released in “good condition” is also a problem for Netanyahu because it means it will be more “difficult for him to upend and crash this agreement”, Levy said.
The Qassam Brigades hands over three Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Gaza City on January 19
Far-right parties to offer Netanyahu ‘tranquility’ in return for the ‘ravages of war’: Ex-Israeli negotiator
Daniel Levy, a former Israeli negotiator and president of the US/Middle East Project, tells Al Jazeera that there is an “almost Orwellian and very transparent option – a package deal – that is on the table to Netanyahu from his religious Zionism and Jewish power factions”.
He said these factions are in effect telling the Israeli prime minister, “If you give us the ravages of war, then we will give you the tranquillity of a stable coalition.” It’s an option Levy says is one that Netanyahu, who “does not talk a post-war language”, has always preferred.
He said there is a likelihood that Israel will continue to conduct “provocations”, hoping it can blame Hamas and return to war.
The US, Israel and its Western allies have always been happy, he said, “despite all the evidence to the contrary, to tell us dishonestly the biggest obstacle” to peace was not Netanyahu but Hamas.
Israel’s Lapid refuses to work with Ben-Gvir, wants to ‘get back to life’
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid says the ceasefire must be fully implemented and continued until all captives held in Gaza are returned.
“They must rebuild their lives. We must rebuild our lives too,” he wrote in a post on X. “Contrary to the government’s position, our goal is not to return to war. The goal is to rebuild Israeli deterrence, the Israeli economy, Israeli society. It’s time to get back to life.”
Lapid told reporters before his party’s weekly meeting that he will not work with Itamar Ben-Gvir’s far-right Jewish Power party, which has left the coalition government.
He added that if a bill to dissolve the Knesset is submitted by lawmakers, his party “would vote together to bring down the government” of Netanyahu.
Israeli army must attack ‘terrorists’ participating in Palestinian celebrations: Minister
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the army to prevent Palestinians in the occupied West Bank from celebrating during upcoming releases of prisoners as part of the Gaza exchange agreement with Hamas.
“All measures must be taken to prevent the recurrence of celebrations and mass Palestinian marches in honour of the release of Palestinian terrorists to Judea and Samaria,” Katz was quoted as saying by Israeli media in a letter to military chief Herzi Halevi. “Judea and Samaria” is the name Israel uses for the West Bank.
Katz said the army must attack any “armed Palestinian terrorist who participates in these marches”.
The next such swap, in which Israeli captives are being exchanged for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, is set to take place on Saturday as part of a ceasefire that began on Sunday and has largely held so far.
As we reported earlier, the Israeli government has emphasised that it intends to keep on fighting in the Gaza Strip and launch a new major military operation in the West Bank despite the ceasefire.
People gather around a bus carrying freed Palestinian prisoners outside Israel’s Ofer Prison near Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank early on January 20
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