Biden Claims He Had to Protect Israel From Itself

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, revealing details of their strained relationship during the Gaza war in his new memoir, "Promise Me, America." The book, set to be released on November 17, accuses Netanyahu of making unfulfilled promises, ignoring U.S. demands to reduce civilian casualties, and prioritizing his short-term political needs over Israel's long-term interests.

Excerpts published by U.S. media outlets, including CNN, detail Biden's account of his interactions with Netanyahu since the October 7th Hamas attack. Biden states he repeatedly urged Netanyahu to take steps to minimize civilian harm in Gaza, even in private conversations where he referred to the Prime Minister by the nickname "Bibi." According to Biden, Netanyahu acknowledged that the growing Palestinian death toll was damaging Israel's global image and weakening U.S. support for the war, yet his promises to change tactics were not realized.

"A familiar pattern emerged: he would promise to do more, and then another, more aggressive military operation would follow, causing more civilian deaths," Biden wrote. He described the U.S. administration's requests for explanations as being met with excuses, while the outcome remained unchanged. Biden directly criticized Netanyahu, stating, "Bibi had no problem making promises he had no ability, or intention, to keep."

Biden explained that while he understood Netanyahu was under heavy pressure, especially after October 7th, he felt it did not justify his conduct. "His failure to think like a statesman and protect Israel's long-term interests, and not just his short-term political needs, frustrated me," the former president wrote. He also revealed a lack of deep trust between them, noting, "Since Netanyahu's return to power at the end of 2022, I felt that protecting Israel meant protecting it from its enemies and from itself."

Despite his criticism, Biden defends his decision to continue providing extensive U.S. aid to Israel during the war, citing his belief in supporting American interests and allies. He also recounts how the October 7th attack shattered his hopes for lasting Middle East peace. The book's publication follows other accounts from former Biden administration officials detailing tensions between the White House and the Prime Minister's office during the war, particularly concerning military operations in Gaza and hostage release negotiations. The Prime Minister's office had not issued an official response at the time of the excerpts' publication.