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Duvi Honig, a prominent business leader and policy advocate, has built a reputation as a key player in U.S.-Israel relations, economic diplomacy and Jewish community affairs.
As the founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, Honig has worked closely with U.S. and Israeli officials to strengthen business ties, combat antisemitism and promote policies benefiting Jewish communities worldwide.
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Duvi Honig - founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce
(Video: Yaron Brener)
Honig’s influence spans government, media and corporate sectors. Through his organization, he has facilitated partnerships between Israeli and American businesses, helped secure federal funding for Jewish enterprises and led advocacy efforts against antisemitism in corporate America.
Over the years, he has cultivated relationships with top U.S. policymakers, including President Donald Trump and members of his administration, as well as with leaders across the Middle East, from Turkey to the Gulf states.
In an exclusive interview, Honig shared insights into his longstanding ties with Trump officials, his role in shaping economic cooperation and his views on Israel’s diplomatic and public relations challenges.
Honig, who attended Trump’s inauguration last month, described the event as a moment of deep significance, given his longstanding relationships with key figures now in senior roles, including incoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
“It was a true honor to be there,” Honig said. “We are very close with the Trump administration, and many of my friends are cabinet members. Pete Hegseth, who worked with me for eight years fighting antisemitism and sticking up for Israel. I even hosted an event with him when Danny Dayan was consul general. We chaired the Bethel dinner together, and we honored Congressman Chris Smith for creating the envoy for antisemitism position and much more. We speak daily. I spoke to him two days ago and we're very excited to have that relationship."
"I brought Mike eight years ago when after the Obama administration strained the relationships between Israel and America,” he said. "Now fast forward, Pete's defense minister, Mike Huckabee is the ambassador... this is not a coincidence. After he was sworn in, I said, 'God put the two people who worked with us to fight for Israel for eight years together in the highest positions.'"
Honig underscored Hegseth’s unwavering commitment to Israel, stating that his support extends beyond public statements. “He is definitely committed to Israel. He stands by it much more than he verbally expresses it,” he said. Honig recalled how Hegseth, while working on a documentary in Israel, personally experienced attacks in the region. “He went into Hebron, and they threw stones thrown at him. I think they even shot at him. He knows what’s going on, and he's not going to stand for this."
Honig also spoke about his role in promoting economic ties between Israel and the U.S., highlighting a recent memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with the U.S. Department of Commerce to recognize Jewish businesses as underprivileged minority-owned enterprises, unlocking billions of dollars in funding for Jewish businesses for the first time in U.S. history. "It's the biggest thing that will ever happen to Jews," he said. "Stimulate billions of dollars a year, to be able to help us and create more inclusivity in contracts."
He expressed full confidence in Trump’s plan to support Israel, dismissing doubts about his administration’s commitment. “Trust in President Trump is 100%,” he said. “He pushed through to keep his promises, and there's no one like that."
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Duvi Honig discussing the MOU with incoming undersecretary of US Department of Commerce Madiha Latif
(Photo: Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce)
6 View gallery
Duvi Honig (left) sign the Memorandum of Understanding unlocking billions in funding for Jewish-owned businesses
(Photo: Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce)
Honig also shared his efforts to expand business cooperation beyond Israel, including recent collaborations with Pakistan and Turkey. He emphasized the role of commerce in building diplomatic bridges, calling economic ties a unifying force.
Honig was critical of Israel’s global public relations strategy, particularly in how the country presents its case amid the ongoing war in Gaza. “Israel’s PR is terrible,” he said bluntly. "The world does not see what's going on here. You just see how Israel's bombing everyone and everything. If you want to see anything that happened on October 7, you need to get a ticket online with the embassy or somewhere to see the video. So how do you expect the whole world to absorb and see what's going on here and understand Israel?"
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He called for a more proactive media approach, including stronger engagement with mainstream news outlets and social media. “If Israel is not going to show them the other side, they don't know it and they're not intellectual enough to understand the depth,” he said, adding that he has personally taken steps to counter misinformation through his organization’s advocacy work.
Honig described his long-standing relationship with Turkey and criticized Israel’s handling of ties with Ankara. He noted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expelled Hamas leadership after October 7 but received little acknowledgment from Israel. “If Turkey really was so pro-Hamas, why did he throw out the leadership of Hamas in the beginning of October 7?” he asked.
Honig also addressed Israel’s deteriorating relationship with Turkey, arguing that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government failed to capitalize on early goodwill and engage diplomatically.
"It's an issue of misunderstanding. Erdoğan always wants to be in a position to have a card in his pocket. He always wants to be able to have leverage. He wanted America to include him. He wanted Israel to include him. He invested years in building the relationship, and then he felt the snub. No one even knows that he threw out Hamas. 'They're cutting me out of the thing. They're working with Qatar, these people who fund them. I'm going to invite Hamas to my house. I'm going to show them that I could control it," Honig said, adding that he continues to maintain contacts with Turkish officials to facilitate economic cooperation.
As for the broader geopolitical landscape, Honig sees economic leverage as a key tool for diplomacy. “What Trump does is what I do, we use the strength of commerce to influence policy. Use the strength of commerce and everyone's lining up in order,” he said, contrasting Trump’s approach with what he described as the Biden administration’s outdated policies.
Honig concluded by stressing the importance of strategic economic alliances, including expanding the Abraham Accords. “Commerce is the key to stability. If we use it right, we can build stronger regional ties and ensure lasting partnerships,” he said.