Photo Credit: The Prime Minister’s Media Adviser

According to a Saturday, January 11 press release, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “held a discussion to assess the situation regarding the hostages and the missing with the defense minister, the heads of the security establishment, and with the American negotiators of both the incoming and outgoing administrations. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Prime Minister directed the Mossad Director, the Shin Bet Director, Maj.-Gen. (Res) Nitzan Alon, and his Foreign Policy Adviser, Dr. Ophir Falk, to depart for Doha in order to continue advancing a deal to release our hostages.”

The incoming administration was represented by President-elect Donald J. Trump’s golfing buddy Steve Witkoff, who had just been appointed special envoy to the Middle East.

Two Arab officials told The Times of Israel that during the meeting, Witkoff pressed Netanyahu to agree to critical compromises needed for a deal. According to the officials, Trump’s envoy achieved more in one discussion to influence the prime minister than outgoing President Joe Biden had managed throughout the year.

Before arriving in Israel, Witkoff spent a week in Doha, Qatar, as part of the negotiations, with the aim of reaching a hostage deal before next Monday’s inauguration.

Witkoff started his career as a real estate lawyer before becoming a billionaire investor and developer in the industry. In November 2024, The Wall Street Journal described him, citing his peers in the real estate world, as “smart, personable, and a talented negotiator with a common touch.”

Last week was far from being Witkoff’s first contact with the Qataris.

In August 2023, the Qatar Investment Authority, a sovereign wealth fund, purchased from Witkoff the 610-room Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan for roughly $623 million, equating to approximately $1.02 million per room, according to public records.

Witkoff acquired the Park Lane Hotel in November 2013 for approximately $660 million. According to CoStar, the property’s transaction history shows that several foreign companies have owned stakes in the Manhattan hotel over the years.

In 2016, United Arab Emirates-based Al Waseet International FZ sold a 41% share of the hotel to Shanghai-based Greenland Group for an undisclosed amount. Later, in December 2018, Hong Kong-based Jynwel Capital Limited sold a partial stake in the property for $140 million to the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala Development Company.

Witkoff’s recent sale of the Park Lane Hotel to the Qatar Investment Authority reflects an approximate 17.5% discount compared to its 2013 purchase price, not accounting for inflation.

Last May, Witkoff participated in a panel at the Qatar Economic Forum in Doha, where he discussed the future of cities alongside Khalid Ahmed Al-Obaidli, president of Qatar’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority, and others.

During his remarks, Witkoff expressed optimism about investment opportunities in Qatar, citing what he described as a “solid government.” He also noted a “strong compact between government and private business” in the Gulf kingdom.

Last November, Jewish Insider noted that Witkoff’s previous financial dealings with Qatar, a country that has sought to influence him through its lobbying efforts, have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.

In his statement announcing the appointment, Trump remarked that Witkoff, whom he has known for decades, “will be an unrelenting voice for peace and make us all proud.”

Jewish Insider quoted Ben Baird, the director of advocacy for the Middle East Forum, who commented on Witkoff’s appointment: “One can’t help but wonder if there aren’t some geopolitics at play here. It’s not a sure bet how people like Witkoff are going to enact policies. They’re not always going to benefit Qatar, and especially when you have competing interests involved, I still think they’ll do what’s best for American interests.”

As to Israel’s interests, this is not good news, with Netanyahu’s complete capitulation over the absurd number of terrorists with blood on their hands being released, as well as his acceptance of a partial list of hostages to be freed alongside the IDF’s withdrawal from large swaths of Gaza.

It turns out that when Trump warned there would be “hell to pay” in Gaza – he didn’t mean Hamas would be making the payment.