Bar-Ilan University president, Prof. Arie Zaban, announced the university’s decision to confer its highest honor title to the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, during The Jerusalem Post Miami Summit 2026 on Tuesday.
The announcement of Witkoff’s honorary doctorate, of ‘Philosophy Honoris Causa’ was given inrecognition of the politician's work over the ceasefire in Gaza and the hostages' return to Israel.
“Mr. Witkoff’s moral leadership helped bring an end to Israel’s longest and bitterest war, the return of the hostages, opening the door to normalization and regional peace,” said Prof. Arie Zaban, President of Bar-Ilan University.
He added, “His unique ability to meet grief with true empathy allowed him to be welcomed in places where others have failed. The ripples of Mr. Witkoff's influence mobilized the international community for the values of freedom, justice, and security in our region.”
The US Envoy was chosen as the honored personality of the year to mark Bar-Ilan's 70th anniversary, joining a list of global statesmen who have formerly won the title. Among the leaders are names such as Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel, former US President George H.W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, and former Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Ariel Sharon.
In the wake of Israel-Hamas war, Steven Witkoff has become an active figure in the Iran issue, discussing solutions to the anti-regime protest wave in the Middle Eastern country.
JD Vance visits Israel alongside Special Envoy Witkoff
The Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke with the US Special Envoy to the Middle East over the weekend, discussing the ongoing protests across the Islamic Republic, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Axios on Monday.
Araghchi "reached out" to Witkoff, the report claimed.
This follows US President Donald Trump's revelation that Iran approached the US to request a return to negotiations on a nuclear deal.
This, in turn, comes after Trump repeatedly threatened to intervene in the protests, including not ruling out military force.
In return, Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf, warned Trump that any such attack would result in Tehran retaliating by striking Israel and regional US military bases, calling them "legitimate targets."
On Sunday, US defense establishment officials told Trump that the military needs more time to prepare for military strikes against Iran, British outlet The Telegraph reported.
James Genn contributed to this report.