Biden Memoir Accuses Netanyahu of Prioritizing Politics Over Israel's Interests

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has leveled sharp accusations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his new memoir, "Promise Me, America." Biden claims Netanyahu repeatedly made promises he did not intend to keep, particularly during the war against Hamas, suggesting the Israeli leader prioritized his own political survival over the long-term interests of the state. The memoir, set for official release on November 17, details Biden's evolving views on his long-time political partner.

According to Biden, he repeatedly urged Israeli leadership to take additional measures to reduce civilian casualties in Gaza. While Netanyahu acknowledged that Palestinian civilian deaths damaged Israel's international reputation and weakened U.S. support, Biden asserts that promises to improve the situation yielded no results, with subsequent military operations and civilian deaths following their conversations. Biden also stated that Netanyahu gave commitments he either couldn't fulfill or never intended to honor, despite understanding the pressure on Israel after the October 7th Hamas attack.

These allegations echo previous accounts from Biden administration officials. Brett McGurk, former Middle East advisor, recalled a significant crisis in U.S.-Israel relations in spring 2024 following an Israeli strike that killed seven World Central Kitchen employees. Biden expressed strong displeasure and threatened to limit U.S. military aid. McGurk revealed the White House considered harsh measures, but the situation shifted due to intelligence warnings of a major Iranian attack, prompting the U.S. to focus on Israel's defense and halt some planned restrictions.

Disagreements also arose concerning hostage negotiations. McGurk suggested Netanyahu focused more on military operations than a deal in early 2024, though he blamed Hamas primarily for the deadlock, noting that U.S. public pressure on Israel sometimes hardened Hamas's demands. Conversely, Phil Gordon, former National Security Advisor to Kamala Harris, claimed Netanyahu imposed additional conditions in summer 2024 that stalled progress, such as maintaining Israeli military presence along the Philadelphi Corridor and controlling the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, which Gordon believes had severe consequences for both Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages.

The memoir also addresses Biden's 2024 presidential campaign, detailing his frustration with pressure from influential Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to withdraw from the race. He also defends himself against claims of memory loss, attributing some perceptions to exhaustion following the Hamas attack and subsequent international crises. Biden recounts a surprisingly friendly post-election meeting with Donald Trump, where they discussed international issues, though Biden felt Trump was more interested in personalities than policy. The 480-page book will be released on November 17, with Biden planning to limit public appearances due to his ongoing prostate cancer treatment.