BRILLIANT DECEPTION: Vacation Ruse, Phantom Trip, Hostage Decoy: How Israel Misled Iran Before Strike
Israel intentionally disguised Thursday night’s high-level security cabinet session as one centered on hostage negotiations, all in an effort to mislead Iran ahead of a carefully timed military operation, a senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Friday.
The official explained that cabinet members were informed in advance that the meeting would deal with stalled efforts to free Israeli captives in Gaza. “The aim was to put Iran to sleep,” the source stated.
Once convened in the secure forum, the cabinet gave unanimous approval to the planned military strike. Every participating minister also signed a strict confidentiality agreement referred to as a Shomer Sod — “guardian of the secret.”
Only a small circle of insiders, including Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Mossad chief David (Dedi) Barnea, and top security officials, were made fully aware of the operation’s scope and objectives.
In the lead-up to the mission, the Prime Minister’s Office orchestrated a coordinated effort to mislead the public and Tehran through a series of deliberate diversions:
• The vacation ploy: Netanyahu’s staff briefed the media that he was preparing to take a family vacation in the Galilee and would be attending his son Avner’s upcoming wedding, suggesting no major military action was on the horizon.
• A diplomatic distraction: The PMO released a statement claiming that Dermer and Barnea were heading to Washington to consult with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff as part of a “sixth round” of nuclear discussions between Iran and the U.S. in Oman — negotiations that don’t actually exist. In truth, both officials stayed in Israel.
• Controlled disinformation: For the first time, Netanyahu’s office declined to push back on fabricated media reports that described a disagreement between the prime minister and President Donald Trump over a possible military strike, a move designed to sow the perception of diplomatic discord and further reduce Iranian readiness.
These tactics played out alongside intensifying political tension within Israel over the IDF draft legislation and rumors about potential instability within the ruling coalition. “It was the perfect smoke screen,” said the senior official, who also confirmed that the U.S. government had been thoroughly informed behind the scenes despite the theatrics.
Channel 12’s Amit Segal noted on X that Trump had given Iran “60 days to reach a deal” on April 12. “Today is day 61,” he observed, suggesting that this deadline may have influenced Israel’s decision to act when it did.
Israeli defense experts believe that the operation’s success hinged on the element of surprise, which significantly enhanced its effectiveness. They say this tactical edge may now provide Israel with a critical buffer as Iran continues to move closer to achieving nuclear breakout capability.
{Matzav.com}