Israel's longterm security more at risk if ceasefire not reached, US official says

Israel’s long-term security will be more at risk if it doesn’t enter a US-backed ceasefire proposal, a senior US official told Reporters, in a sharp rebuke to Israeli criticism of the talks.

“We have taken account of Israel’s security concerns in this negotiation, and if anything, not getting into this deal is more of a threat to Israel’s long-term security than actually concluding the deal and that includes the issue of the Philadelphi corridor,” the senior US official said.

The official also suggested that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Israel would indefinitely remain at the Philadelphi Corridor is hurting the talks.

“Staking out concrete positions in the middle of negotiations isn’t always particularly helpful”.