Former U.S. President Joe Biden revealed in his new memoir details of his escalating disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the war on Gaza, accusing him of repeatedly making promises to the U.S. administration that he did not intend to fulfill, and ignoring its repeated demands to reduce the numbers of Palestinian civilian casualties. Biden stated that Netanyahu preferred his personal political calculations over the long-term strategic interests of "Israel," despite repeated American warnings about the implications of military operations and the large number of civilian casualties in Gaza. In excerpts from his new book “Get Ready, America,” published by CNN on Friday, November 13, Biden recounted milestones in his decades-long relationship with Netanyahu, revealing his growing frustration with how the Israeli Prime Minister handled Washington's requests during the war. Biden clarified that he had been demanding since the beginning of the war that measures be taken to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians, noting that he raised these demands during private and repeated conversations with Netanyahu, who according to his account, acknowledged that the rising Palestinian casualty numbers negatively impacted "Israel's" image and the level of American support for its war. However, Biden said that Netanyahu had become accustomed to making commitments to change military operations, only for attacks resulting in civilian casualties to be repeated. He added that Israeli officials provided explanations and excuses whenever Washington requested clarifications, without any change in the outcome on the ground. He quoted Netanyahu as saying that he did not feel embarrassed about making promises he was unable or unwilling to fulfill, referring to what Biden described as a repeated pattern in the Israeli Prime Minister's dealings with the U.S. administration.
Extended disagreements
Biden addressed the evolution of his relationship with Netanyahu since his years as a member of the U.S. Senate, stating that he understood the pressures Netanyahu faced following the October 7, 2023 attack, but he rejected the way Netanyahu handled the requirements of the moment and the long-term interests of "Israel." He added that he felt frustrated by Netanyahu’s inability to act as a statesman prioritizing "Israel's" strategic interests over his immediate political needs. These acknowledgments gain significance amid the criticism Biden faced within the U.S. for the continuation of American military and political support for the occupation during the Gaza war, despite the public disagreements between him and Netanyahu, and Netanyahu's disregard for Washington's demands regarding civilian protection. In the published excerpts, Biden rejected accusations that he had been misled by Netanyahu, affirming that he had clearly expressed his position during their talks repeatedly. However, the excerpts did not provide a clear explanation for his administration's decision to continue providing military and political support for the occupation, even after he concluded, according to his narrative, that Netanyahu was not adhering to the promises he made to the White House.