Landing of the kidnapped helicopter/IDF spokesman
Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, the IDF's supervisor on the issue of the abductees in Gaza, did not join the Israeli delegation to the talks in Cairo due to Netanyahu's decision not to give a mandate to the negotiating team to present new positions, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The one who did join the delegation is Netanyahu's political advisor Ofir Falk.
He did not join the Israeli delegation to the talks in Cairo.
General (res.) Nitzan Alon/Reuven Castro
why is it important:
Alon's decision points to the very limited room for maneuver that Netanyahu is willing to give to the Israeli negotiating team. Netanyahu's decision to add his associate Ofir Falk to the negotiating team, for the first time since the beginning of the war, may indicate that the prime minister wants to make sure that his directive "just listen" is indeed applied.
"To just listen, two ears are enough, you don't need 12," a senior Israeli official told Walla!
On Alon's decision.
More in Walla!
In Israel it is estimated: an Israeli delegation will go to Egypt tomorrow to promote the kidnapping deal
To the full article
Want to make sure his directive "just listen" is actually implemented.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/official website, Mark Israel Salem
Behind the Scenes:
A source privy to the details said that during the preparatory discussions for the trip to Cairo, Major General Nitzan Alon suggested to Prime Minister Netanyahu a certain course of action for the round of talks in Cairo, but Netanyahu did not agree to give a mandate to the negotiating team to move in that direction and instructed to be "listening" only.
The source stated that under these conditions Alon believed that there was no benefit in joining the trip and sent his deputy Oren Seter.
According to sources close to Netanyahu, Falk's inclusion in the delegation stems from the prime minister's desire to have "his own person" involved in the talks.
In response, the Prime Minister's Office said that Falk was sent to Cairo as an addition to the negotiating team.
More on the same topic:
Gaza war
War of Iron Swords
abducted