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Editorial Note: William and Tania Koenig are dear friends of IFA. Gods has used them mightily in reporting truth in the Israeli political and biblical landscape. As William has White House Press credentials and they both have strategic relationships with leaders in Israel and the U.S. they are positioned for this assignment.  Spiritual warfare has ramped up this year for the Koenigs. As a trusted prayer partner, IFA is calling for increased and strategic prayer for the Koenigs. Pray specifically for protection, open doors, favor, and personal protection for their home, safety, and marriage.

President Trump’s trip to the Middle East is being framed as a mission to secure Gulf investment, pursue a Gaza ceasefire, and confront Iran’s nuclear ambitions. But this is not just about policy. It’s about what’s really happening, and who is being left behind.

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According to multiple reports, Trump’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will also include Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. These are not peace brokers — they are longtime allies of jihadist ideology, whose goals align more with Iran than with any genuine path to coexistence.

At the same time, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi stated in Doha that Tehran will not back down from its “nuclear rights.” They have made uranium enrichment non-negotiable — even as new nuclear talks are being quietly prepared.

Trump is traveling with a full political and economic team: Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. These are not ceremonial delegates, this is a coordinated effort — not just to manage headlines, but to deliver a historic deal.

On Sunday night, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, told hostage families that the U.S. wants to return the hostages, but “Israel is not ready to end the war.” He accused Israel of prolonging the conflict and called for an agreement to be reached immediately, regardless of Israel’s military strategy.

For months, I have warned that Steve Witkoff’s plan would backfire, that his admiration for Qatar, Oman, and even Putin would lead to disaster. And now, instead of taking responsibility for his misguided strategy, he is blaming Israel. His frustration is not with Hamas — it is with Jerusalem. These are not the actions of a true ally. This is the exposure of a dangerous agenda.

There is a price for this kind of gesture. There is always a price. And the question must be asked: are we on the edge of a deal that might be the last?

The White House can deny this, but where there is smoke, there is fire. And the danger here is not just political — it is real.

Abbas believes in jihad. Syria’s regime has overseen mass slaughter. Iran is openly committed to Israel’s destruction. These are the voices in the room. And Israel is not among them.

This administration may not say it supports a two-state solution. But if its architects are willing to trade hostages, oil, and recognition for quiet, the outcome may be the same. And it may come wrapped in applause.

How can the United States sit at the table with the president of Syria — a man whose regime has slaughtered thousands, including dissidents, Christians, and innocent families — and still claim moral ground? How can any deal be made with leaders whose hands are stained by the very ideology we once vowed to fight?

You don’t negotiate with extreme jihad. You don’t dignify the voices that persecute believers and massacre their own people.

In 2001, after 9/11, Pat Robertson stood up and called things as they were. He spoke against radical Islam. He named the threat. He told the truth. And he wasn’t afraid to say it publicly. Today? Silence. Fear. A culture afraid to offend.

The Church must stay awake. The leaders must stay clear. And America must ask itself: what is the cost of this table?

Let us pray that President Trump sees the fire.

Hours after Edan Alexander’s release was confirmed, President Trump posted: “I am happy to announce that Edan Alexander, an American citizen who has been held hostage since October 2023, is coming home to his family. I am grateful to all those involved in making this monumental news happen. This was a step taken in good faith towards the United States and the efforts of the mediators — Qatar and Egypt — to put an end to this very brutal war and return ALL living hostages and remains to their loved ones. …”

But in doing so, he is putting the entire world — the UN, the ICC, and public opinion — against Israel. This was not about celebrating a rescue. It was about executing the will of Qatar, Hamas, and Egypt to stop Israel’s war before it could finish. With Witkoff’s comments and Trump’s public posture, this administration has done more to undermine Israel in one week than some enemies have achieved in years.

This is not a celebration. It’s a political exchange designed to pressure, isolate, and disgrace Israel — just when she was preparing to finish the fight. 

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(Photo Credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)