An unprecedented conflict at this level in the entity.
Ronen Bergman exposes Netanyahu's efforts "to thwart the deal and the anger in the security apparatus."
Bergman is one of the most famous investigative journalists in the entity, and he writes for the New York Times and a number of major international newspapers. From what he said in his report in Yedioth today:
“A new front in the intense conflict between the Israeli army and the intelligence community on the one hand, and Netanyahu’s office on the other hand...
Senior officials in the security apparatus, from various organizations and units, expressed their extreme anger yesterday (Wednesday) due to the intention to thwart any possibility of a hostage deal. They expressed additional anger over a leaked statement from the Prime Minister’s Office attributed to a “security source” strongly attacking Hamas’ response to Israel’s offer, even though all security sources concerned with negotiations about the potential deal said they were not aware of the statement, let alone agreed to it.
“Behind the scenes, there was drama. In the evening, when they received Hamas’ response, senior officials in the security apparatus said the opposite of what the Prime Minister’s Office statement had tried to attribute to them a few hours earlier. They said that Hamas’ response was a good blueprint with which to launch negotiations leading to a deal.” “The drama began the day before yesterday: Officials claimed that the Prime Minister’s Office and extremist members of the Council of Ministers cooperated together,” before Hamas responded “to close the door on any opportunity to release Israelis from the Gaza Strip in the near future.” After Bergman provided details A “security source” was quoted as saying: “The seriousness of the situation cannot be exaggerated: the hostages may be sacrificed because Netanyahu wants to buy time until the end of the session and speech in Congress.” (quotes end).
The most important thing in the report is its emphasis on the raging dispute between the military and security establishment, and between Netanyahu and his government, whether the latter was able to impose the deal on him, or whether he found a way to thwart it. An unprecedented dispute of this level in the history of the “entity,” and there is no doubt that the “flood” and the heroics and legendary steadfastness that followed were the reason for that.