Israeli Attack on Witkoff: "Introduce Turkey into Our Borders"

SadaNews - Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday, Saturday, with Trump's envoys, indicating that Steve Witkoff exerted significant pressure to open the Rafah crossing.

 

Israeli sources stated that the meeting was described as "good," although ambiguity still surrounds Netanyahu's stance on the opening of the Rafah crossing, despite the announcement of moving to the second phase of the understandings.

The newspaper quoted an official saying: "We hope that the body of the Israeli prisoner Ron Goyli will be returned this week, and then we can advance on the other files."

Alongside the positive atmosphere discussed in the meeting, sources revealed a state of discontent within Israeli political circles regarding Witkoff's performance, with officials accusing him of pressuring to open the Rafah crossing before securing the body of the last Israeli prisoner.

A senior Israeli official, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: "Witkoff pushed to introduce Turkey into our borders. The clock is ticking towards a confrontation with Turkey, which poses a real danger to our security."

The pressure exerted by Steve Witkoff to open the Rafah crossing includes, according to Israeli criticism, bringing in international or regional parties to oversee or participate, including Turkey.

The second phase of the agreement also stipulates the disarmament of the "Hamas" movement and other Palestinian factions, carrying out an additional withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and beginning reconstruction efforts, which the United Nations estimates will cost around $70 billion.

While the first phase included a ceasefire and a swap of released Israeli prisoners for Palestinian prisoners.