From: Haaretz May 5, 2025 Witkoff, at Independence Day event, pledges to work for 'Israel's peace, prosperity and unity'
US President Trump's special Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, spoke Monday at an Independence Day celebration at the home of Israeli ambassador Yehiel Leiter.
"Israel has been and always will be the cherished friend of the US," Witkoff said. "This year has been challenging and our celebration bittersweet while 59 hostages remain cruelly held by Hamas."
"On behalf of President Trump, I pledge that we will work tirelessly this year so that next year's Independence Day is not just a wish for happiness, but a reality of peace, prosperity and for Israel unity,"
Speaking about his involvement in regional diplomacy, Witkoff said that: Gaza: "there are many efforts underway, humanitarian aid initiatives for Gaza, which we applaud," as well as
Abraham Accords: "the expansion of the Abraham Peace Accords, which we think will have some or a lot of announcements very, very shortly, [and] which we hope will yield great progress by next year."
Iran: Witkoff also reiterated the US position that Iran "shall never get a nuclear weapon."
Speaking about the October 7 war, and, motioning toward Ari Spitz, an IDF soldier who lost both legs and part of an arm in Gaza, Witkoff added that: "over the past 20 months, countless Israelis have sacrificed so much. In their honor, I urge the Israeli people to choose — 1. unity over division, 2. vision over disagreement, 3. and hope over despair. 4. When you do, Israel's future will shine brighter than ever."
