As global leaders convene in Istanbul for a new round of peace talks on the war in Ukraine, one ally is once again absent from the table: Israel.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin attempts to recast himself as a global mediator—just days after deepening ties with China, Brazil, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia—Israel watches from the margins, still under fire from Iranian proxies across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen.
Turkey, the chosen host, is no neutral party. It arms Hamas, opposes Israel publicly, supports jihadist factions in Syria, and has aggressively targeted the Kurds. Its selection as mediator is not incidental—it’s strategic. And it reflects a growing global posture: peace is being discussed, but Israel is not part of the equation.
Meanwhile, President Trump continues his regional tour with a full diplomatic and economic team. Deals are being shaped, alignments redrawn. But Israel remains excluded from the main negotiations on Gaza’s future, Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions, and regional reconstruction.
Today, May 14, the exclusion became official. According to Turkish state media, President Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa participated in a joint summit, alongside Turkish President Erdogan via online conference. The meeting confirmed what many feared: that peace is being negotiated not only without Israel — but with voices openly aligned against her.
In a historic development, President Trump also met today in Riyadh with Syria’s new president, al-Julani — the first such meeting between a U.S. president and a Syrian leader in 25 years. Trump announced his intention to lift all sanctions on Syria “to give the new regime a chance.” At the same time, he offered a “hand of peace” to Iran while warning, “They cannot have nuclear weapons. It’s a proposition that won’t last forever. It’s time for them to make the choice.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on Chinese companies buying oil from Iran, citing that such revenue funds terrorism and weapons development. The contrast between financial pressure and diplomatic outreach reveals the complexity — and volatility — of what is unfolding.
The symbolism is undeniable. May 15—a day historically used by Palestinians to mark the “Nakba,” or catastrophe of Israel’s founding—is now the date of a summit where Israel is diplomatically absent, but geopolitically encircled.
The Church must take note. These moves are not just political. They are spiritual.
A world is being reshaped. And the only covenant nation in the region is not at the table.
We must watch. We must speak. And we must pray—because maps are being redrawn, but heaven has not changed its position.