Report: Middle Eastern Country Advised Another To Make 'Peace' With Israel While Preparing For War

Officials in one Middle Eastern country recently advised counterparts in another to show flexibility toward Israel and pursue an agreement, according to sources cited in a report that emerged Monday. The recommendation was not intended to establish a lasting accord, but rather as part of a strategy to lower Israel's level of alert while preparations for a broader confrontation continued covertly.

During discussions between the sides, officials conveyed a clear recommendation to move ahead with an agreement with Israel and subsequently violate it, while military preparations proceeded in parallel. The underlying approach involved adopting tactical flexibility, pursuing a diplomatic track, and creating a sense of calm in Israel while secretly continuing preparations for a significantly larger confrontation.

The report compared the approach to conduct in the period leading up to October 7, when Hamas had signaled interest in maintaining calm and reaching an arrangement while simultaneously preparing for its surprise attack.

The information had been subject to Israeli military censorship restrictions for several weeks before clearance for publication. Due to these restrictions, the identities of the two countries involved cannot currently be disclosed.

The report raises concerns that a diplomatic agreement reached under such circumstances could serve as a mechanism for maintaining calm while also lowering Israel's level of alert as the other side continues military preparations. It highlight the possibility that diplomatic overtures and apparent de-escalation could, in certain circumstances, be used as part of a broader strategy of deception rather than as a genuine effort to establish lasting stability.