He wanted to get a deal as quickly as possible. The methods of Steven Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special advisor in the Middle East, are a continuation of the permanent balance of power highlighted on the international scene in recent weeks by the American president-elect. Traveling to Qatar at the end of last week, the negotiator did not hesitate to opt for an unusual strategy in order to communicate with the Israeli authorities, as reported by several media outlets in the country, including the daily Haaretz, this Thursday, January 16.
Friday January 10, as Shabbat celebrations began, Steven Witkoff ignored this traditional Jewish holiday and took his phone to contact the teams of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His request? The organization of a meeting as quickly as possible with the person in charge, during the next day, that is to say on a Saturday, a day usually off according to the Jewish religion. It is therefore impossible to schedule any appointments in this slot, his interlocutor replies, because the Shabbat continues until the evening. A meeting will only be possible from that time onwards, he tells Witkoff.
Baroque query
The reaction of the American envoy was unusual to say the least. According to HaaretzSteven Witkoff would therefore have vehemently retorted that Shabbat “did not interest him” and would therefore have pushed for this meeting to be held despite everything. According to an Israeli official interviewed by Israeli channel Channel 14 and cited by The Guardianholding this exchange as quickly as possible was the result of a desire by the American president-elect himself. “What happened was that Witkoff delivered a strict message from President Trump, who unequivocally demanded an agreement,” the source explained.
Benjamin Netanyahu therefore finally gave in to the special advisor’s baroque request and met him in Jerusalem on Saturday morning. A meeting described as “tense” by the Israeli media. This accelerated the establishment of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, finally announced on Tuesday January 15… and already weakened in recent hours. “During this meeting, Witkoff pressed Netanyahu to accept several key compromises necessary to sign an agreement,” two Arab sources familiar with the matter said at Times of Israel.
“Unusual aggression”
Steven Witkoff’s approach in any case surprised Israeli officials. Close to Donald Trump, this multimillionaire businessman was largely involved in the Republican’s campaign. Even before the inauguration of his ally at the White House, in recent days he has increased his meetings with various leaders in the Near and Middle East to advance the possibility of an agreement between the belligerents in the Gaza Strip. .
The special envoy’s shock strategy may have given a new glimpse of what awaits diplomats around the world in the coming years. “Witkoff is not a diplomat. He does not speak like a diplomat, he is not interested in diplomatic codes and protocols. […] He is a businessman who wants to obtain an agreement quickly and who moves forward with unusual aggressiveness,” an Israeli diplomat, on condition of anonymity, explained to the newspaper Haaretz.
Donald Trump, for his part, once again welcomed Steve Witkoff’s action. In a message published Wednesday after the announcement of a ceasefire agreement on his Truth Social network, the billionaire welcomed an “epic” compromise, which according to him “results” from the “historic victory” of his camp during the last American presidential election, in early November.