“That son of a bi***, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy!” US President Joe Biden declared privately about the Israeli prime minister to one of his associates in the spring of 2024 as Israel’s war in Gaza intensified, journalist Bob Woodward writes in his new book, “War.”
Woodward’s new book, which was obtained by CNN ahead of its October 15 release, gives an in-the-room account of key moments as Biden and his national security team navigate international crises, from the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal to confronting Putin before he invaded Ukraine to private battles with Netanyahu.
Asked about the details that Woodward reports about Biden and Netanyahu, White House senior deputy press secretary Emilie Simons told reporters Tuesday, “They have a long-term relationship. They have a very honest and direct relationship, and I don’t have a comment on those specific anecdotes.”
“What’s your strategy, man?” Biden asked Netanyahu during an April phone call, Woodward reports.
“We have to go into Rafah,” Netanyahu said.
“Bibi, you’ve got no strategy.” Biden responded.
That same month, Israel launched a strike in Syria that killed a top general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, prompting Iran to launch more than 100 ballistic missiles in response, the first time that Iran had fired missiles from its territory directly at Israel.
Netanyahu wanted to retaliate.
Biden told Netanyahu on a call to “take the win,” though the Israeli prime minister pushed back. “You don’t need to make another move. Do nothing,” Biden said.
In the end, Israel launched a limited strike against Iran, which Biden considered a win.
“I know he’s going to do something but the way I limit it is tell him to ‘Do nothing,’” Biden told his advisers, according to Woodward.
But Biden’s frustration with Netanyahu boiled over as the war in Gaza continued to escalate.
“He’s a fucking liar,” Biden said privately of Netanyahu, after Israel went into Rafah, Woodward writes.
“Bibi, what the fuck?” Biden yelled at Netanyahu in July after an Israeli airstrike killed a top Hezbollah military commander and three civilians in Beirut, according to Woodward.
“You know the perception of Israel around the world increasingly is that you’re a rogue state, a rogue actor,” Biden said to Netanyahu.
Netanyahu responded that the target was “one of the leading terrorists.”
“We saw an opportunity and took it,” Netanyahu said. “The harder you hit, the more successful you’re going to be in the negotiation” according to the Quds News Network.
CrossFireArabia
Dr Khairi Janbek
