President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, did more to pressure Israel to agree to a hostage and ceasefire deal in one meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than President Biden did in an entire year, two Arab officials have told The Times of Israel.
Witkoff met with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday and got him to make concessions, which Israeli media said was the deciding factor that led to the ceasefire deal announced on Wednesday.
It’s unclear how Witkoff got Netanyahu to agree to the deal, but the Biden administration refused to use any of its leverage over Israel to force a deal and continued providing huge amounts of military aid to support the genocidal slaughter in Gaza.
Even though Witkoff played a crucial role in the deal, Biden took credit for the agreement. “My diplomacy never ceased in their efforts to get this done,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
In brief remarks at the White House, Biden credited his foreign policy team, who he referred to as “peacemakers” despite their role in backing the slaughter in Gaza. When asked by a reporter if he or Trump should get credit for the deal, Biden said, “Is that a joke?”
Biden also credited his strong backing of Israel as a factor that led to the deal. But unconditional US support for Israel emboldened Netanyahu to sabotage previous negotiations and escalate elsewhere in the region.
The ceasefire deal is based on an outline Biden proposed back in May 2024, which Hamas accepted months ago. The agreement involves three phases and does not commit Israel to a permanent ceasefire.
Biden's diplomats did the bulk of the work over months but couldn't get the deal over the line. The failure is biden's for long rewarding Israel bad behavior with unconditional support. Yet Bibi would have screamed that Biden wasn't pro Israel enough and Trump would have made political hay out of it if things had been any different.
Well stated and let me add…. Typical, as things go…
It's Biden's fault, for not doing the right thing. Trump always supported negotiations and an end to the violence.
Except when he was saying Israel should "finish the job" and he bitched about Biden/Harris withholding a shipment of 2,000 lb. bombs.
Yet Bibi would have screamed that Biden wasn't pro Israel enough and Trump would have made political hay out of it if things had been any different.
You mean like this?
“Crooked Joe Biden, whether he knows it or not, just said he will withhold weapons from Israel as they fight to eradicate Hamas Terrorists in Gaza,” Trump posted on Truth Social.“Hamas murdered thousands of innocent civilians, including babies, and are still holding Americans hostage, if the hostages are still alive.”
I'm not holding my breath on any agreement made. Israel is and always will be built on lies.
Most likely threatening to stop the arms flow…!
"It’s unclear how Witkoff got Netanyahu to agree to the deal…"
I'll bet real money it's along the lines of, "Agree to this ceasefire deal, and in return, incoming President Trump will have the USA completely allied with Israel whenever you want to attack Iran. Blank cheque, Mr. Prime Minister."
This is as expected. Biden never wanted peace, as he shoveled billions extra to Israel. Trump is a serious person, he expects deals to be made.
Trump despises Netanyahu, justifiably.
People here to smear Trump will reply with some silliness like "Trump's son in law is Jewish", or "Musk supports H1Bs", as if that has any relevance.