Biden Lost Patience With Netanyahu Over Gaza War, New Book Reveals
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Biden angrily asked Netanyahu if he thought he was Santa Claus during a call.
- The confrontation stemmed from frustration over civilian casualties and aid delays in Gaza.
- Communication between the leaders dropped from 20 calls to 2 in a single quarter.
- The period is described as the most difficult crisis witnessed by advisor Brett McGurk.
- The incident marked a turning point in U.S.-Israel relations during the war.
A new book by Brett McGurk details a significant moment of tension between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the Gaza War, revealing how close the two leaders came to a complete rupture. McGurk recounts a phone call where Biden, frustrated with the war's impact on civilians and the delay in humanitarian aid, lost his temper and asked Netanyahu, "Do you think I'm Santa Claus?"
McGurk, who served as a key advisor during the conflict, described the period as the most complex, difficult, and horrific crisis he had ever witnessed. The strain of his role, which involved extensive travel to the Middle East, even led to him developing a hernia. The spring of 2024 is depicted as a turning point in the U.S.-Israel relationship.
This breakdown in communication is underscored by a sharp decline in their phone calls. While Biden and Netanyahu spoke 20 times in the last three months of 2023, they only spoke twice in the first quarter of 2024. Biden's anger was specifically directed at the civilian casualties and the obstruction of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza.
Read the original at Maariv