Netanyahu Asks Biden for ‘Reasonable Deal’ his Cabinet Could Approve

US President Joe Biden's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv last October (AP)
US President Joe Biden's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv last October (AP)
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Netanyahu Asks Biden for ‘Reasonable Deal’ his Cabinet Could Approve

US President Joe Biden's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv last October (AP)
US President Joe Biden's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv last October (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked US President Joe Biden not to believe the Israeli press, which he said had "falsely" accused him of not being interested in a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, according to political sources in Tel Aviv.

The Hebrew website Walla reported that Netanyahu confirmed during his call with Biden that he was interested in reaching an agreement but aimed for a reasonable deal that his cabinet could approve.

- Obstructing the Rafah operation

Walla's political reporter Barak Ravid said he relies on several Israeli and US officials for his sources and stressed that Biden seemed affected by the accusations against Netanyahu.

According to Ravid, Biden asked the Israeli PM to send a delegation to Cairo with serious efforts to ensure the success of the negotiations.

According to the report, Netanyahu responded that contrary to reports and interpretations in the Israeli media, he was very serious to make a deal, citing his willingness to release a Palestinian prisoner for every Israeli taken captive by Hamas.

The Israeli PM also suggested a one-day ceasefire for every single captive released, unlike the previous deal.

The prime minister emphasized to the president that he was ready to strike a hostage deal, even if that meant stopping the Israeli army’s operations, especially plans to enter Rafah in the Gaza Strip.

Biden said that Hamas' demands were exaggerated.

- Israeli dispute

As for the negotiations, Israeli media reports stated that there are sharp disagreements within Israel, which are favoring war over a hostage deal.

Despite Netanyahu's statements to Biden and the families of Israeli detainees, he rejected a new draft presented to him a few hours before the Israeli delegation headed to Cairo for the talks.

The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan 11) reported that the Mossad, the Shin Bet, and the Israeli army have developed a new proposal regarding a prisoner exchange deal.

However, Netanyahu, Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and Defense Minister Yoav Galant rejected it.

Kan 11 pointed out that the new proposal was prepared by the head of Mossad, David Barnea, the head of the Shin Bet, Ronen Bar, and Maj-Gen reservist Nitzan Alon, commanding intelligence efforts to find the detainees.

The report stated that the proposal was brought "several times" for discussion with Netanyahu, the last of which was hours before the Israeli delegation headed to Cairo.

Kan 11 quoted a source that it said was familiar with the negotiations, saying that the new proposal includes several changes with a certain degree of flexibility, which paves the way for a breakthrough in the talks. The source refused to give further details.

The report stressed that Netanyahu refused the proposal and categorically rejected its presentation in the Cairo talks. He instructed the delegation to only "listen" during its participation in the negotiations.

Alon refused to go to Cairo after Netanyahu rejected the draft, and instead, the PM sent his military advisor.

Channel 13 reported "dramatic disagreements" in Israel regarding the new proposal.



Taiwan Deploys Advanced US HIMARS Rockets in Annual Drills

FILE PHOTO: The Taiwanese military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at the Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Taiwanese military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at the Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
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Taiwan Deploys Advanced US HIMARS Rockets in Annual Drills

FILE PHOTO: The Taiwanese military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at the Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: The Taiwanese military conducts its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) live-fire test launch at the Jiupeng base in Pingtung, Taiwan May 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

Taiwan's military began deploying one of its newest and most precise strike weapons on Saturday, ahead of live-fire drills meant to showcase the island's determination to resist any Chinese invasion.

Two armored trucks with HIMARS - High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems - were seen maneuvering around the city of Taichung near Taiwan's central coast on the fourth of 10 days of its most comprehensive annual exercises yet, Reuters reported.

The live-fire portion of the Han Kuang drills is expected next week.

In wartime, said Colonel Chen Lian-jia, a military spokesperson, it would be vital to conceal HIMARS from enemy aerial reconnaissance, satellites "or even enemy operatives behind our lines" until the order to fire was given.

China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own and has intensified military pressure around the island over the last five years, staging a string of intense war games and daily naval and air force patrols around the territory.

Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, with President Lai Ching-te saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

China's defense ministry said this week the Han Kuang drills were "nothing but a bluff" while its foreign ministry said its opposition to US-Taiwan military ties was "consistent and very firm".

Regional military attaches say the HIMARS deployment in a warlike exercise will be closely watched, given that they have been used extensively by Ukraine against Russian forces. Australia has also purchased the Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) systems. Taiwan took delivery last year of the first 11 of 29 HIMARS units, testing them for the first time in May. With a range of about 300 km (190 miles), the weapons could strike coastal targets in China's southern province of Fujian on the other side of the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwanese military analysts say the weapon would be used with its locally developed Thunderbolt 2000 launchers so Chinese forces could be targeted as they left port or attempted to land on Taiwan's coast. A Thunderbolt unit was also seen in a park near the HIMARS units.

Senior Taiwanese military officials say the Han Kuang drills are unscripted and designed to replicate full combat conditions, starting with simulated enemy attacks on communications and command systems, leading to a full-blown invasion scenario.

The drills aim to show China and the international community, including Taiwan's key weapons supplier the US, that Taiwan is determined to defend itself against any Chinese attack or invasion, the officials say.