CIA Director William Burns testifies before the House Intelligence Committee about the threats on Capitol Hill, USA, March 9, 2023/Reuters
CIA chief Bill Burns is visiting Israel today (Thursday) and will meet with Mossad head Dedi Barnea and Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss the hostage deal, according to a source privy to the details.
Yesterday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan commented on Netanyahu's decision not to send a delegation to Cairo: "We think that a hostage deal can and should be achieved, and everyone, including the Israeli government, should continue to work hard to achieve such a deal," Sullivan said.
Yesterday it was announced that the talks held in Cairo between Israel, the US, Qatar and Egypt on the issue of the abductees ended without a breakthrough, but progress was made in understanding the gaps that must be closed in order to enter into negotiations that may lead to a deal, an Israeli source briefed on the details of the meeting said on Wednesday night. And the Americans said that the main gap in the talks that prevents moving to more advanced negotiations was and remains the high number of prisoners that Hamas demands to be released for each Israeli abductee, and especially for the female soldiers who are in captivity.
Head of Mossad Dadi Barnea/official website, Avshalom Sashoni
An Israeli delegation arrived for the talks in Cairo, which also included the head of the Mossad, Dadi Barnea, and the head of the Shin Bet, Ronan Bar, and the representative of the IDF's abductee headquarters, reserve lieutenant colonel Oren Seter.
They met the representatives of the participating countries, including the head of the American CIA, William Burns, and the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdel-Rahman Al-Thani.
"It was a good meeting and all the parties that participated are making a significant effort to try to bring about a breakthrough. There was an in-depth discussion of the various gaps that remain, including the issue of the prisoners. All parties left with homework after which it will be possible to see if the conditions for effective negotiations are met," said the Israeli source who was informed privately The contacts.
On Tuesday it was announced that Lt. Gen. Nitzan Alon, the IDF in charge of the abductees issue 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 who comment on the issue. Joining the delegation is Netanyahu's political advisor Ofir Falk.
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