Biden's Memoir Reveals Deep Disagreements with Netanyahu Over Gaza

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has revealed significant disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his new memoir, "Promises to Keep." Biden accuses Netanyahu of failing to uphold commitments to the U.S. administration regarding civilian casualties in Gaza and prioritizing political interests over long-term Israeli security. The excerpts, aired by CNN, highlight the growing rift between the two leaders during the Gaza war, eroding Biden's trust in Netanyahu despite their decades-long political relationship.

Biden recounts frequent conversations with Netanyahu, urging him to take steps to reduce Palestinian civilian suffering and warning that high casualty rates would damage Israel's standing and American support. According to Biden's account, Netanyahu acknowledged the negative impact of Palestinian deaths but would subsequently resume military operations with significant civilian losses after making promises to change course. Despite receiving Israeli justifications for these operations, Biden states the outcomes on the ground remained unchanged, accusing Netanyahu of making and breaking promises.

While understanding the pressure Netanyahu faced after the October 7th attacks, Biden expresses frustration over Netanyahu's focus on immediate political needs rather than long-term Israeli interests. These criticisms emerge amid domestic U.S. pressure on Biden regarding continued military and political support for Israel, despite stated disagreements and repeated U.S. calls for reduced civilian harm and improved humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

The memoir also touches on other controversies. Former advisor Brett McGurk details a tense April 2024 call where Biden confronted Netanyahu after an Israeli strike killed seven World Central Kitchen employees, even threatening to halt arms shipments. McGurk notes that while the U.S. considered tougher measures, the unprecedented Iranian threat to Israel shifted Washington's priorities. Phil Gordon, a former advisor to Kamala Harris, offers a different perspective on stalled hostage negotiations, suggesting Netanyahu added new demands in July 2024 that delayed a deal by six months, leading to the deaths of hostages.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris also recounts her own strained interactions with Netanyahu in her book, "107 Days," describing him as dismissive and favoring Donald Trump's return to the White House. She felt Netanyahu was stalling during a July 2024 meeting regarding the Gaza humanitarian crisis. Harris also criticized Biden for not showing the same level of empathy for Palestinians as he did for Israelis and Ukrainians.

Biden defends his performance during the war, addressing criticism from within the Democratic Party, particularly concerning his cognitive abilities and handling of the conflict ahead of the 2024 election. He refutes claims from Special Investigator Robert Hur's report that described him as an elderly man with memory issues, noting the interviews occurred during a period of intense focus on the post-October 7th crisis. The memoir also details Biden's perceived betrayal by Democratic figures like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, who he claims suggested he withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. He also reflects on his 2024 debate with Trump, admitting a poor performance and discussing his post-election meeting with Trump, where he felt Trump was more interested in personal relationships than policy.