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A fair point?

Benjamin Netanyahu Gets 'Safety Net' for New Hostage Deal Talks

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, speaking from Kibbutz Nir Oz where 57 residents were murdered and 76 kidnapped on October 7th, credited U.S. President Donald Trump for recent hostage releases and emphasized that Prime Minister Netanyahu has full political backing for advancing future hostage deals.

Head of opposition Yair Lapid speaks at a conference entitled "Opportunities for Israel under Trump", in Tel Aviv. January 28, 2025
Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90

Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid made a strong statement of support for ongoing hostage negotiations during a visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz today, crediting U.S. President Donald Trump for recent successful hostage releases and emphasizing broad political backing for future deals.

"I'm standing here at Kibbutz Nir Oz. 57 members of this small community were murdered on October 7th. 76 were kidnapped. Six died in Hamas captivity. 23 are still hostages. We don't know who is alive and who is dead," Lapid stated during his media address.

He continued, "Last Saturday, Yarden Bibas returned home after 484 days in captivity. Part of the time he was held in a cage, beaten and tortured. We don't know what happened to his wife, Shiri, what happened to Ariel, who was only 4, and Kfir, who was only nine months old when kidnapped by Hamas monsters."

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's scheduled meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump in Washington, Lapid offered unequivocal political support for advancing hostage negotiations. "Netanyahu has a safety net from the opposition for any hostage deal, in all its phases," Lapid stated, emphasizing that such agreements pose no risk to the current government's stability.

"There is no political obstacle preventing Netanyahu from reaching phase 2 of the deal. There is overwhelming support for this among the people, there is overwhelming support here in the Knesset and in Israel's political system," he added.

The Opposition Leader praised Trump's role in recent successes, stating, "Without President Trump and his commitment to the issue, there is great doubt whether we would have seen alive the men and women who returned home in the past two weeks." He expressed confidence in Trump's promise to continue efforts until all hostages return "alive or dead."

Looking to Nir Oz's future, Lapid emphasized the importance of rebuilding: "We owe it to the hostages and to the murdered to ensure this place doesn't become an empty monument to the dead. The hostages shouldn't return to a place that symbolizes mourning and bereavement, but to a place of hope and rebuilding. Nir Oz will rise again. Children will laugh again in these paths and gardens. This community will return to flourish and prosper, like the entire State of Israel."

He concluded his remarks with gratitude to the U.S. President: "The President promised he would ensure the deal continues until the last hostage returns home, alive or dead, and we know we can trust his word. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts for his actions on behalf of the hostages. Those who have returned, and those who are yet to return."

The statement comes at a crucial moment as Netanyahu prepares for White House discussions that could shape the next phase of hostage negotiations, with Lapid's remarks appearing designed to remove any domestic political considerations from the equation.


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