President Isaac Herzog encouraged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to rise above internal objections and be prepared to make “painful” concessions, as the premier headed to Washington for talks on a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza Sunday.

Netanyahu’s rare meeting with the president, who is seen as a uniting societal force, came days after the premier paid his first visit to the hard-hit Kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza border — both moves that may be aimed at building support across ideological lines as hawkish hardliners publicly oppose a Gaza agreement being pushed by the US and seen as likely to bolt the coalition if the deal goes ahead.

According to a readout from Herzog’s office, the president stressed the urgency of securing a breakthrough in talks for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza when he meets with US President Donald Trump on Monday.

“I fully support these efforts, even when they involve difficult, complex, and painful decisions,” Herzog said. “The cost is not simple, but I am confident that the cabinet and the security establishment will rise to the challenge, as they have until now.”

Netanyahu’s office did not comment on the meeting with Herzog.

As Netanyahu headed to Washington, a high-level team of negotiators was making its way to Qatar for indirect talks with Hamas, after the terror group said Friday that it had responded positively to a US- and Israel-backed proposal.

Israel’s delegation to Doha includes government hostage point man Gal Hirsch, Netanyahu’s political adviser Ophir Falk, deputy Shin Bet chief “Mem,” and a senior Mossad official, Army Radio........

© The Times of Israel