‘Israel discussed the file of prisoners’ exchange in Doha’ – Political source
Ramallah – North-press Agency
Ahmad Ismail
A political source has said that the secret visit of the Israeli Director of Mossad, Yossi Cohen and the southern District Commander in the Israeli army, Herzi Halevi, to Qatar earlier this month, before being revealed by the former Minister of the Israeli army, Avigdor Lieberman, didn't aim at only demanding the extension of the Qatari financial assistance for Gaza Strip, but it relates to the file of exchanging the prisoners, as well.
The source stated to North-Press that by insisting of the Israeli officials on demanding $15 million as a monthly financial assistance for Hamas from Doha, Lieberman intended to arise a harmful electoral propaganda against Netanyahu before Knesset elections, which is about to be held a week later, through Lieberman's attempt by saying: "Netanyahu is weak and pays money for Hamas, where the latter reacts by launching missiles on the Israeli towns.”
The political source indicated that despite the speech of the Director of Mossad and the Israeli military commander about the necessity of the continuation of the Qatari support for Gaza Strip, this was related to the context of the overall settlement of Gaza Strip, and through the file of the Israeli soldiers detainees by Hamas.
Netanyahu wanted the secret visit of the officials to Qatar to be secret, but Lieberman revealed it in order to cause damage to Netanyahu in front of the public opinion in Israel. The source stated that Netanyahu's move to Qatar aims at preventing a military operation which would topple the rule of Hamas, as he doesn't want this scenario.
Observers believe that it isn't clear whether the secret visit of the Israeli officials to Doha would reveal a push regarding the file of the exchange of prisoners, and whether it will result in the achievement of a deal between Israel and Hamas in the recent period, perhaps it will be a factor that leads into political gains in favor of Netanyahu in front of his opponent, the head of Blue and White Alliance, Benny Gantz.
On the other hand, in their statement to North-Press, the leadership levels in Hamas excluded the possibility of a swap deal a few days before the Israeli elections, despite the progress at the level of the indirect negotiations sponsored mainly by Egypt and with a facilitated role by regional and international circles.