Lapid: End the ‘unnecessary statements’ by officials serving to ‘thwart the hostage deal’
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid demands an end to “unnecessary statements” by senior officials, arguing that such rhetoric prevents the successful conclusion of a hostage deal.
“The announcements, the threats, other unnecessary statements by the ministers of the government and the prime minister regarding the hostages, the political calculations, the media recklessness must stop,” Lapid says.
“Are you completely crazy?! The State of Israel does not have a responsible adult to stop the madness.”
The former prime minister argues that “briefings by officials and associates” have only served to “thwart the hostage deal and constitute poor management of the negotiations.”
“The Israeli government abandoned the hostages and the Israeli government should do everything, but everything, to bring them home,” he insists.
Lapid’s statement comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forcefully rejected a claim made by an Israeli official suggesting that he was responsible for torpedoing the latest round of talks with Hamas in Cairo on a potential hostage and truce deal.
The unnamed Israeli official had suggested to The New York Times that Netanyahu’s statements about pressing ahead with a ground offensive in Rafah led to Hamas hardening its position in the hostage and truce talks.
Earlier today, the IDF called on Palestinians to begin evacuating from parts of Rafah ahead of a planned offensive on the southern Gaza city, Hamas’s last stronghold.
