An official appointed by President-elect Donald Trump for his next administration was the deciding factor in securing a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, but President Joe Biden nevertheless took a victory lap over the breakthrough on Tuesday.
Steve Witkoff, who Trump appointed as his Middle East envoy for his second administration, emerged successful from a critical meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, according to The Times of Israel.
Witkoff apparently did more to move Netanyahu toward a ceasefire in a single meeting than Biden did in the past year, according to two Arab officials who spoke with the outlet, which is based in Jerusalem.
Witkoff, a real estate attorney and investor, was in Doha, Qatar, last week to take part in the talks, capping the trip with the stop in Jerusalem to meet with Netanyahu.
Two days later, negotiators from Israel and Hamas confirmed that they accepted the ceasefire agreement in principle.
“A deal could have been reached much earlier, but both sides led to talks falling apart at various times,” one Arab official told the Times.
But the Biden administration was swift to take credit for the ceasefire, overlooking the fact that the approaching Trump administration seems to have been the catalyst for the deal.
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement from the White House that the ceasefire was reached “thanks to the leadership of President Joe Biden.”
“President Biden and I have no higher priority than the safety of Americans, and are determined that all the American hostages be returned home as part of this deal,” she insisted.
Harris also appeared to pat herself on the back for the deal.
“In my many conversations with leaders in the region, my unwavering focus has been to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination,” Harris said.
“I will never stop working to achieve a future of greater peace, dignity, and security for all people in the region,” she continued.
The play here from Biden and Harris is rather obvious.
Biden is concluding a dismal four years in the Oval Office.
Harris, who lost decisively to Trump a few months ago, may never have the chance to take the mantle as commander-in-chief.
Taking credit for the ceasefire is merely a desperate attempt to pad both of their resumes before their chief political rival takes power in a few short days.
But the American people know exactly who is responsible for this breakthrough.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
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