Joe Biden has vented his anger at Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of profanity-laden rants, accusing the Israeli prime minister of “regularly lying to him” during the war in Gaza, according to an explosive new book.
The US president called Netanyahu a “damn guy” and a “son of a bitch” in conversations with his associates, writes journalist Bob Woodward in his new inside account.
President Biden’s “frustrations and mistrust” of Netanyahu “exploded” last spring, Woodward writes, as the war in Gaza became increasingly destructive and spread to Rafah, a southern area of the Strip from which many refugees had fled. .
Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for nearly 40 years, dating back to when the president was a junior senator in his 40s and Netanyahu was a rookie diplomat about ten years younger.
However, their relationship has been somewhat strained at times, and Netanyahu was a key international ally of Donald Trump while he was in office.
Last week, Biden said he did not know whether the Israeli leader was hindering a Middle East peace deal to influence the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election.
Joe Biden’s “frustrations and mistrust” toward Netanyahu “exploded” last spring, according to a new book. The President of the United States is pictured on October 8, 2024.
Joe Biden has vented his anger at Benjamin Netanyahu in a series of profanity-laden rants, according to a new book
Smoke rises in northern Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as seen from Israel, October 7, 2024.
The new revelations are made in Woodward’s book ‘War’, which will be published next week.
The famed Watergate reporter is expected to lift the lid on the president’s blunt assessments of other world leaders, including Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin.
Speaking to his advisers shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, he is said to have described the Russian president as “that damned Putin” and “the epitome of evil.”
Biden also reportedly had a nickname for his predecessor in the Oval Office, calling Donald Trump “that fucking moron,” CNN reported based on excerpts from the book.
Woodward describes Netanyahu as leaving Biden “fucking furious,” allegedly saying in a tirade, “That son of a bitch, Bibi Netanyahu, is a bad guy.” He’s a fucking guy!’
With Netanyahu “continuing to say he was going to kill every last member of Hamas.” Woodward wrote: “Biden had told him that was impossible, threatening both privately and publicly to withhold shipments of American offensive weapons.”
“He’s a fucking liar,” Biden said of Netanyahu after the invasion began. The prime minister had repeatedly vowed to attack the area at all costs, claiming that Hamas leaders were hiding there.
Biden also expressed his anger directly at Netanyahu, reportedly telling him after an Israeli airstrike killed a top Hezbollah military commander and three civilians in Beirut: “Bibi, what the fuck?”
He also reportedly tried to warn Netanyahu that Israel was losing credibility in the world and was being seen as a “rogue” actor.
Biden reportedly described the Russian president as “that damn Putin” and “the epitome of evil.”
President Biden Reportedly Calls Donald Trump ‘That Fucking Asshole’
“We saw an opportunity and we took advantage of it,” Netanyahu is reported to have responded. “The harder you hit, the more successful you will be in negotiating.”
Biden was trying to rein in Israel amid concerns that the fighting could trigger an all-out war in the Middle East.
Woodward’s book is due out on October 15.
The White House downplayed the book’s revelations, with spokeswoman Emilie Simons telling reporters Tuesday: “The commitment we have to the State of Israel is ironclad.”
Leaders “can have very honest and direct conversations” and ties between the United States and Israel are strong, Simons added.
Simons, when pressed about the details, said he would not comment on all the anecdotes that might emerge in the reports.
He added of Biden and Netanyahu: ‘They have a long-term relationship. They have a very honest and direct relationship, and I have no comment on those specific anecdotes.’
Biden has pushed for a Gaza ceasefire deal for months, but Netanyahu has repeatedly resisted the prospect even as talks continue.
‘No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None. None, none. And I think Bibi should remember that,” Biden said last week.
Responding to concerns raised that Netanyahu is not interested in a peace deal partly because of American politics, he added: “And if he is trying to influence the elections, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on it.”