Two Muslim officials told The Times of Israel on Tuesday that a “tense” weekend conference between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and incoming Mideast minister Steve Witkoff led to a milestone in the prisoner negotiations, with the top secretary to US President-elect Donald Trump doing more to influence the top in a single sit-down than outgoing President Joe Biden did all yr.
Witkoff has been in Doha for the past year to take part in the prisoner negotiations, as negotiators try to secure a bargain before Trump’s January 20 opening. On Saturday, Witkoff flew to Israel for a conference with Netanyahu at the president’s Jerusalem business.
The two Egyptian authorities on Monday told The Times of Israel on condition of anonymity that during the conference Witkoff urged Netanyahu to take crucial compromises that needed an arrangement. Neither Witkoff nor Netanyahu’s department responded to requests for comment.
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