How might Netanyahu’s visit to the US affect cease-fire efforts?

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States comes as negotiations to end the war between Israel and Hamas and recover hostages held in Gaza inch forward, with no immediate deal in sight.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States continue to pressure Israel and Hamas toward a gradual ceasefire agreement that would stop the fighting and free the hostages. The negotiations have repeatedly hit roadblocks over disputes over the governance of post-war Gaza and how long the ceasefire will last.

Netanyahu Promising “total victory” in Gaza Wednesday, to thunderous applause from Congress, risks inflaming tensions with Hamas at a time when talks are delicate. But he also came under increasing pressure from the United States to commit sincerely to ceasefire efforts. Critics say Netanyahu is stagnate during negotiations in order to get war for their own political benefit.

A team of Israeli negotiators due to travel to Qatar for another round of talks was held up on Thursday and could be sent next week.

Here’s a look at how Netanyahu’s visit could affect the talks:

During the trip, Netanyahu appeared to avoid publicly mentioning the ceasefire talks, angering hostage families in Israel who felt their plight was ignored. Domestic pressure is high to reach a deal to return the remaining 110 hostages home, but Netanyahu also faces opposition from his far-right ruling partners to any deal to end the war.

His speech to Congress on Wednesday barely mentioned the hostages. His office said reaching a deal was just one of several items on his wish list to discuss with U.S. officials.

Still, the visit exposed Netanyahu to face-to-face pressure from Israel’s main ally, on whom he counts for critical military and domestic support.

Both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris He said that in his meetings with Netanyahu in Washington on Thursday, they would prioritize closing the gaps in a hostage deal.

In some of his most forceful comments, Harris said she told Netanyahu “It is time” to end the war and bring back the hostages.

But as Netanyahu keeps an eye on his coalition partners – the key to his political survival – the trip could also be part of a broader delaying tactic to avoid reaching a deal.

“As his coalition falters due to tension with far-right parties, Netanyahu is deliberately delaying negotiations for the release of the hostages,” columnist Amos Harel wrote in the liberal Israeli daily Haaretz, adding that Netanyahu had “engineered” a long trip.

Rapidly changing political events in the United States, Harel said, could distract that country’s leaders from urgently pushing for ceasefire talks.

Netanyahu’s visit and his fiery speech to Congress fueled tensions with Hamas at a time when the militant group’s negotiators are at the table.

Hamas reacted angrily to Netanyahu’s presence in the United States and called his promises to return the hostages insincere.

“He is the one who thwarted all efforts aimed at ending the war and concluding an agreement to free the prisoners,” he said in a statement after the speech. He called Netanyahu’s words about intensifying efforts to free the hostages a “complete lie” to mislead public opinion.

Hamas spokesman Jihad Taha said Thursday that the group did not believe the visit, during which Netanyahu received a standing ovation from Congress, would bring enough pressure on him to affect the Israeli negotiating position.

“If the US administration is serious, it should pressure the Prime Minister of the Zionist government, Benjamin Netanyahu, to stop this aggression,” he said.

But Hamas stopped short of withdrawing from talks after the visit, a sign that talks could resume.

Netanyahu’s trip to the United States came as the talks were already facing challenges.

The ceasefire plan It calls for an initial six-week phase in which Hamas would release some hostages (including women, the elderly and the wounded) in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from populated areas. Palestinian civilians could return to their homes and humanitarian aid would be increased.

The two sides are supposed to use that six-week period to negotiate an agreement on the second phase, which would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza along with a lasting cessation. from the war. .

But the two sides seem very far apart in this second phase.

Israeli leaders have suggested they are aiming for a one-phase deal to free some hostages, after which they would resume their campaign to destroy Hamas and keep troops in parts of the territory in the long term.

Netanyahu has spoken of reaching a “partial” agreement. A day before arriving in the United States, he told troops in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city, that Israel demanded the release of “a maximum number of hostages” in the first phase. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel is seeking a deal for the release of “dozens of hostages.” And when this problem has passed, we will know how to fight again.”

That is a scenario that Hamas has rejected. He rejected the demand that Israel commit from the beginning to a complete end to warbut it has sought guarantees from the mediators for that objective.

Mediators appear to be trying to resolve as much of the second phase as possible now, including a postwar government for Gaza without Hamas.

“There are details to work out,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said while speaking in Aspen, Colorado, last week. Sullivan said those issues include what will be Israel’s remaining military presence in Gaza, humanitarian assistance and a day-after plan for governing Gaza.

Netanyahu’s office did not say when the Israeli negotiating team would be sent back for talks. In Congress, he said Israel was “actively engaging in intensive efforts” to secure the release of the hostages and was “confident that these efforts could be successful.” But he also promised “total victory” in the war with Hamas.

Taha said Hamas is waiting for an official Israeli response to Hamas’ proposed amendments.

——-

AP correspondents Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington, DC, Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Tia Goldenberg in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.