Stephen Witkoff, Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, is now seen in Israel as the newcomer who managed to secure in a single meeting what the Biden administration couldn’t achieve in an entire year with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Witkoff arrived in Doha last week, joining President Biden’s negotiating team in a pivotal phase of a lengthy diplomatic marathon spanning Cairo, Doha, Paris, and Rome. These negotiations aimed to broker a settlement between Israel and Hamas, involving a ceasefire, a detainee-prisoner exchange, and, importantly, discussions on shaping the future of the Gaza Strip.
Witkoff, 67, is a prominent real estate mogul and founder of a business group that carries his name. He became one of the standout new faces in Trump’s election campaign in July 2024. With a personal net worth of $500 million and of Jewish background, Witkoff’s role has sparked mixed reactions. Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, quoted an Israeli diplomat from the negotiating delegation describing him as “not a diplomat, doesn’t talk like a diplomat, and has no interest in diplomatic manners and diplomatic protocols.” Instead, he’s seen as the quintessential businessman—driven to secure a deal as fast as possible, pushing forward with relentless determination.
Witkoff’s approach in Doha left a lasting impression on the negotiating team—an unprecedented scene that many believed was the secret to clinching the agreement.
On Friday, Witkoff phoned Netanyahu’s aides from Doha, informing them he’d be arriving in Israel on Saturday afternoon, despite it being the Jewish weekly holiday. The aides hesitated, concerned that Netanyahu wouldn’t be able to accommodate the meeting. Witkoff’s blunt reply stunned them; in crisp English, he firmly stated that Saturday didn’t matter to him. The message, as the aides relayed, was crystal clear, and Netanyahu agreed to meet with the US envoy. In a rare break from official Israeli protocol, the prime minister showed up at his office for a formal meeting with Witkoff, who then returned to Qatar to finalize the deal.
Trump’s decisions follow his own calculations, and it’s doubtful that even he keeps track of his timeline for achieving what he personally considers essential. This was evident in his sudden intervention to end the war in the Gaza Strip. Inside Israel, it was widely believed that Netanyahu had planned to prolong the situation for another week, aiming to surpass Trump’s inauguration date and ensure the Biden administration was completely out of the picture before solidifying any agreements. However, the outcome was far from what Netanyahu had anticipated—falling well short of his expectations and leaving him and his circle of right-wing ministers in complete shock.
The Economist’s editorial have perhaps gone even further, voicing significant apprehension just hours before Trump took office. It warned of the risk of miscalculations, suggesting that Trump’s second term is geared toward driving a sweeping revolution in global affairs, not merely focused on the Middle East as many had believed. The recent breakthrough in the Gaza deal underscores this unexpected shift, highlighting a difference that went beyond all predictions.
The Economist’s editorial points out that while Trump’s critics have often labeled him a buffoon and an isolationist, his actions even before taking office on January 20 suggest that such descriptions fall short of capturing what his second term might deliver. In the days leading up to his swearing-in, he helped broker a cease-fire and a hostage exchange in Gaza. In a bold, taboo-breaking move, he also pursued control of Greenland, drawn by its mineral wealth and strategic Arctic location. Trump’s return to the White House is set to be more disruptive than his first term, challenging the stable foreign policy doctrine that has shaped America since World War II.
For decades, American leaders have claimed that with great power comes the responsibility to act as the indispensable guardian of a world stabilized by democracy, secure borders, and universal values. Trump is poised to abandon these ideals, focusing instead on consolidating and exploiting power. His approach will be tested in three key conflicts: the Middle East, Ukraine, and the US-China cold war. Each reflects his determination to break with the past through unorthodox methods, opportunistic power plays, and a conviction that peace can only be achieved through force. In analyzing the man about to take office, the Middle East stands out as a showcase of his unpredictability. Israelis and Palestinians agreed to the Gaza deal because Trump set a hard deadline, warning that “all hell would break loose” if they failed. Unlike typical peacemakers, Trump has little interest in the region’s complex history. His preparatory talks—and the legacy of the Abraham Accords from his first term—signal his intent to strengthen these agreements, leveraging the hostage release to push for a deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which he views as a gateway to prosperity and, perhaps, a Nobel Peace Prize.
According to The Economist’s forecast, the region that gave birth to the three monotheistic religions will serve as a tough proving ground for whether people can truly set aside deep-seated beliefs and historical grievances in pursuit of promised prosperity. Interestingly, Trump views Israel’s right-wing—represented by government ministers and Knesset members—as a greater obstacle to his future plans than any other party. While he won’t say it outright, he’s more than capable of handling them the same way Stephen Witkoff did recently.
