The recent decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel the Mossad chief’s trip to Qatar in order to restart negotiations over the release of Israeli captives held in Syria has been met with some controversy.
The Israeli government had hoped that the Qatar trip would allow Mossad chief Yossi Cohen to speak directly with representatives from the Syrian government and possibly other actors in the region to restart the negotiations for the release of the captives.
The Qatar trip had been planned at least a week ago, and it had been seen as a positive step in the right direction after months of stalling. However, the government canceled the trip at the last minute, citing concerns that the trip would sour relations with Syrian allies.
It is unclear why the government decided to cancel the trip at such a crucial juncture. Israel and Qatar have had a rocky relationship in recent years and government sources have speculated that the decision to cancel was due to worries that the trip would encourage better relations between Qatar and Syria.
This decision has sparked an outcry from advocacy groups who argue that the decision only serves to further delay the release of the Israeli captives. As of yet, there has been no explanation from the Israeli government as to why the trip was canceled.
This decision has once again highlighted the complex nature of the negotiations between Israel and its neighbors and the difficulty of finding a lasting solution to the captive crisis. It is possible that the Mossad trip would have yielded positive results and could have helped resolve the issue.
At the same time, it is difficult to ignore the potential risks associated with engaging with Syrian partners. With the stakes this high it is understandable why the government would choose to exercise caution and forgo a direct meeting with the Syrians.
While the recent decision by the Israeli government to cancel the trip to Qatar may have saved the country from potential risks, it has at the same time left the Israeli captives in limbo. As such, the government must now work to find an alternate solution in order to ensure that the crisis is brought to an end.