Yossi Ginossar, who was now a secret conduit to Arafat ...

[meliss]

"Members of the American delegation, notably Robert Malley in his book Camp David: The Tragedy of Errors, blamed Ehud Barak for his condescending and insensitive behavior. Barak conducted the bulk of the negotiations via Yossi Ginossar, who was now a secret conduit to Arafat and—it later emerged—his business partner."
Hi, does "now" used in the past mean the simultaneity with an event in the past or with the time of the telling the story?
Source: Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman

 

[Tarheel]

Delete "now" from that and it doesn't change the meaning at all.

 

[jutfrank]

It's simultaneity with the time of the narrative.