Middle East officials advised regional state to pursue Israel agreement to lull it to sleep ahead of potential war

Officials from a Middle Eastern country reportedly advised another regional state to pursue an agreement with Israel as a tactical move to “lull it to sleep” while preparing for a larger confrontation, according to a report published Monday. The report, first shared by KAN News and cleared for publication by the IDF military censor, cited discussions between officials in recent months. These officials urged their counterparts to demonstrate tactical flexibility toward Israel and work toward reaching an agreement.

The proposal, however, was not framed as a path toward lasting reconciliation. Instead, the officials reportedly suggested that the other country should use the period created by an agreement to prepare for a future military confrontation with Israel. The suggestion included the idea of reaching an agreement with the intention of later violating it, while simultaneously building up for a larger conflict.

The identities of the two countries involved have not been disclosed. In response to the report, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated, “Anyone who thought we could entrust the security of our sons to agreements and guarantees from those around us received a painful slap in the face this morning.” He criticized the agreements as rooted in “lies and deception,” emphasizing that their purpose was to “lull us to sleep ahead of the next blow.”

Israel has concluded its latest round of peace talks with Lebanon in Rome, where the two countries have worked on a shortlist of countries that could send troops to verify the disarmament of Hezbollah. The talks center around the implementation of the June deal that links Israel’s progressive withdrawal of troops from Lebanon to the disarmament of the terrorist organization.

Additionally, Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa recently told Al Jazeera that Syria and Israel are working to reach a security agreement with the aid of several countries. He expressed hope for an agreement that could serve as a gateway to comprehensive peace without undermining Syria’s claim to the Golan Heights.

These concerns carry particular weight following the intelligence failures surrounding the October 7 massacre. Internal Hamas documents published in June detailed a deliberate effort by the terrorist organization to convince Israel that it sought stability while secretly planning for conflict. The report highlights the complex and often deceptive nature of diplomatic engagements in the region, where agreements may serve multiple, conflicting purposes.

Source: Read the original report