After the Israeli military censor cleared publication Monday, political leaders responded to revelations that regional officials discussed signing a tactical agreement with Israel now while preparing to later violate it and open war. A statement Monday evening indicated Israeli officials have known about the plan for months.
The Israeli military censor on Monday cleared for publication a report that officials from regional countries discussed a strategy of reaching a tactical agreement with Israel in the near term, with the explicit intention of violating it and initiating a war when convenient. The report, first disclosed by journalist Amit Segal (N12) and later reported by Kan News, said the dialogue between officials from 'countries of the region' included the suggestion that one Arab state advise another to sign a deal as a tactical measure while continuing preparations for a broader confrontation.
In Israel, the deception plan has been known for months, a statement said Monday evening, without elaborating on the specific intelligence or sources.
Political figures responded to the revelations. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said the report reinforced his opposition to agreements based on what he called an 'illusion of quiet.' Former senior Mossad official Eyal Tzir Cohen warned that agreements with regional states must account for potentially fragile internal political realities. Democrats MK Efrat Rayten cautioned against Israel falling into another 'conception' but argued that relying solely on military force cannot provide security and that diplomacy remains necessary.
The identity of the countries involved remains under censorship restrictions. The report noted that one Arab state approached another and suggested the tactic, but further details were not cleared for publication.
10 developments
Source and signal
- Open-source intake