Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration is facing internal alarm over the effectiveness of Steve Witkoff, the newly-appointed White House special envoy to the Middle East, as Iran and its terror proxies step up campaigns against Israel and the broader region. Senior U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Witkoff’s appointment has exposed critical vulnerabilities in American regional policy at a time when Israel’s security and the stability of U.S. partners are under unprecedented threat.
Sources close to the White House confirm that Witkoff, a real estate executive with limited foreign policy experience, is struggling to assert U.S. interests amid the escalating activities of Iranian-backed terror entities, including Hamas, and a rising Russian presence. While intended as a sign of fresh thinking and loyalty to President Donald Trump, the selection has instead raised urgent questions about Washington’s ability to lead Middle East peace efforts and confront adversaries emboldened following the October 7 massacre in Israel.
The appointment comes against the backdrop of continuing fallout from the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. That attack, directed and funded from Tehran, saw the mass murder of Israeli civilians and the abduction of scores of innocents. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has focused the world’s attention on Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’ and renewed debate over the terms and conduct of American engagement.
Interviews with U.S. and Israeli officials reveal doubts regarding Witkoff’s readiness to engage with senior Israeli policymakers, Egyptian interlocutors, and Arab Gulf officials. Several senior administration sources expressed deep frustration that, despite good intentions, the envoy has yet to articulate a robust strategy for limiting Iran’s reach or for directly countering Russia’s involvement in regional destabilization—including intelligence sharing, military technology transfers, and diplomatic cover for Iranian proxies.
At a moment when Israel faces simultaneous threats from Hamas terror cells in Gaza, Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, and Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Yemen, U.S. policy coherence and resolve are seen as essential. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have privately conveyed to Washington the need for strong, coordinated action and unequivocal American support. Both have warned that the perception of American hesitation or strategic drift risks emboldening the Iranian regime and its partners, thereby endangering Israeli lives and undermining regional order.
American, Israeli, and allied intelligence agencies have reported a dramatic increase in operational coordination between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its terror proxies. Iran’s support encompasses weapons deliveries, training, and financial backing—including the rockets and drones used in regular attacks against Israeli towns and cities. Since October 2023, rocket fire from Gaza and southern Lebanon has intensified, with Iranian and Russian technology now integrated into battlefield operations.
Diplomatic sources describe mounting frustration among U.S. partners in the Gulf, who see the lack of strong American diplomatic leadership as an opportunity for Tehran and Moscow to expand influence and foster instability. Efforts to advance the Abraham Accords—seen as the most promising framework for regional peace and the isolation of Iranian-backed groups—have slowed amid doubts over clear U.S. leadership.
The questions surrounding Witkoff’s suitability have therefore become symbolic of a broader test: whether the United States will reaffirm its longstanding commitment to Israel’s security and to confronting terror enemies with decisive action. Israeli officials have stopped short of direct criticism, but analysts caution that the outcome will shape not only the success of the ongoing fight in Gaza but also Israel’s posture vis-à-vis Hezbollah, and the success of normalization processes across the Gulf and Africa.
The appointment of an envoy unsuited for the acute complexity and high stakes of Middle East diplomacy—especially in the wake of unimaginable terror and mass hostage-taking—risks sending a fatal signal of indecision to friends and foes alike.
The coming months will reveal whether Washington can course-correct and provide the leadership that has historically underpinned the U.S.-Israel partnership, safeguarded Jewish communities, and offered hope for the rollback of terror and the advance of peace throughout the Middle East.
