March 15, 2025
MidEast & Beyond
In one of the most consequential diplomatic contradictions of our time, a dangerous gap is emerging between what Israel is demanding and what the United States is delivering. At the center of this divide are two key figures: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.
At a time when Iran continues to openly threaten Israel with destruction, the voices shaping nuclear negotiations must speak with unity, not contradiction. But recent statements from both Netanyahu and Witkoff show a troubling disparity—one that not only undermines Israel’s security but raises critical questions about the motivations behind U.S. diplomacy.
⸻
Netanyahu’s Unyielding Standard: The Libya Model
On Sunday, Prime Minister Netanyahu made an uncompromising demand: any agreement with Iran must mirror the Libya model—total dismantlement of nuclear infrastructure, supervised and executed by the United States.
“We agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said. “This can be done by agreement, but only if this agreement is Libya-style: They go in, blow up the installations, dismantle all of the equipment under American supervision and carried out by America—this would be good.” (JNS)
He then added a stark warning: “The second possibility—that will not be—is that they drag out the talks, and then there is the military option. Everyone understands this.”
These are not rhetorical flourishes—they are red lines drawn from experience. Netanyahu is sounding an alarm forged from decades of intelligence briefings, broken promises, and the hard-earned reality that Iran’s regime thrives on delay and deception.
⸻
Witkoff’s Reversal: Words Without Weight?
Just days earlier, Witkoff had raised red flags in Israel with comments on Fox News suggesting Iran could enrich uranium up to 3.67% under strict verification. This position resembled the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which the Trump Administration famously abandoned due to its inability to prevent Iran’s long-term nuclear breakout.
But as Israeli outrage mounted and the Iranian Supreme Leader doubled down on threats, Witkoff reversed course.
“Any future agreement with Iran must include the complete dismantlement of its nuclear program,” he now says. (Israel National News)
The problem? The damage was done. The shift appeared reactive, not strategic—raising doubts about whether Witkoff’s diplomacy is being guided by principle or by pressure.
⸻
Khamenei’s Clarity: “Israel Will Be Wiped Out”
While U.S. officials juggle talking points, Iran’s Supreme Leader remains chillingly consistent. On April 13th, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared:
“The oppression of the Zionists will be answered with a severe divine response, and there’s no doubt about that.” (Jerusalem Post)
Just days after U.S.–Iran talks in Oman, this is the regime’s true face. No ambiguity. No change. Only a reinforced commitment to the destruction of Israel.
And yet, even after this public threat, the U.S. continues its diplomatic engagement.
⸻
Money, Motives, and the Shadow of Compromise
The contradictions extend beyond rhetoric. They touch matters of influence, wealth, and legacy.
• Steve Witkoff sold a troubled hotel to a Qatari buyer—a country that funds Hamas, shelters its leaders, and has mediated U.S.–Iran talks.
• Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, received $2 billion in Saudi investment for his post-White House fund—after negotiating the Abraham Accords.
• The Trump team is preparing for a high-stakes visit to Saudi Arabia, where investment, defense deals, and normalization efforts are on the table.
Are America’s diplomatic calculations being shaped by financial entanglements? Is U.S. resolve being softened to preserve economic ties with Saudi Arabia and Qatar—even at the cost of Israel’s security?
⸻
A Prophetic Warning: Do Not Compromise the Covenant
This is not simply about political inconsistency. It is spiritual misalignment.
God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not up for negotiation. Any strategy that places Israel’s survival on the bargaining table—whether through silence, soft power, or shallow deals—will bring consequences. The Church must discern this moment and pray with urgency.
Netanyahu is not just defending a nation—he is upholding a prophetic mandate. The Libya model he demands is not just smart diplomacy. It is the only path that honors the covenant and neutralizes Iran’s genocidal ambitions.
⸻
Conclusion: Who Will Speak with One Voice?
The time for contradictions is over. Either the United States will align itself with truth and act accordingly—or it will empower its enemies through delay, distraction, and double-speak.
Steve Witkoff may have reversed his words. But unless his actions—and those of the Trump Administration—fully align with Israel’s demands, the threat remains.
Now is the time to stand with Israel—not in sentiment, but in substance. Because blurred lines in diplomacy become broken lines in history.
We must pray. We must speak. We must not compromise.