Biden called Netanyahu 'a bad f---ing guy': Woodward book
President Biden’s frustrations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war in Gaza have at times boiled over in profane terms, according to accounts in a new book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bob Woodward.
The president in private referred to Netanyahu as a “son of a bitch,” a “bad guy… a bad f—ing guy,” Woodward wrote of conversations with associates in the Spring of 2024, as Israel’s war in Gaza intensified, according to CNN, which obtained a copy of the book.
The White House has acknowledged Biden’s growing frustrations with Netanyahu over the course of the year as Palestinian civilian casualties mounted in the tens of thousands amid Israel’s pursuit to eliminate Hamas in Gaza following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
Woodward writes in the book that Biden criticized Netanyahu as having no strategy when the Israeli leader declared his intention to go into Gaza’s southern city of Rafah – a move that the Biden administration had worked to delay over humanitarian concerns, with more than one million people sheltering in a city home to less than 300,000 people.
“He’s a f–ing liar,” Biden said privately of Netanyahu, after Israel went into Rafah, Woodward reportedly wrote in the book.
Woodward wrote that Biden sought to influence Netanyahu in April against escalating action against Iran by telling him to “do nothing” and to “take the win,” after the U.S. and regional allies helped Israel down a missile barrage launched by Iran at the time.
Israel instead struck an Iranian airfield near a sensitive nuclear site as retaliation, but it did not escalate further at that time.
“I know he’s going to do something but the way I limit it is tell him to ‘Do nothing,’” Biden told his advisers, according to Woodward.
But Biden’s frustrations with Netanyahu have heightened amid a series of Israeli actions against Iranian targets and its proxies of Hezbollah and Hamas over the summer, many of which reportedly took place without the U.S. receiving advance notice.
“Bibi, what the f–?” Biden yelled at Netanyahu in July after an Israeli airstrike killed a top Hezbollah military commander and three civilians in Beirut, according to Woodward.
“You know the perception of Israel around the world increasingly is that you’re a rogue state, a rogue actor,” Biden said to Netanyahu, according to the book.
Netanyahu responded that the target was “one of the leading terrorists.”
“We saw an opportunity and took it,” Netanyahu said. “The harder you hit, the more successful you’re going to be in the negotiation.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Date: | |
Tag: | Joe Biden |
Topics
-
Entertainment - ABC News
Woodward book reveals Trump's calls with Putin and Biden's private remarks on Obama and Netanyahu
Bob Woodward writes in his new book “War” that Donald Trump has had as many as seven private phone calls with Vladimir Putin since leaving office and that he secretly sent the Russian president ...27 minutes ago - Joe Biden -
World - The Guardian
‘Rutger Hauer said he didn’t play bad guys’: how we made chiller classic The Hitcher
‘Rutger seemed to terrify everyone on the set and was pretty much left alone. I once went to his trailer for lunch and we sat in dead silence as he chain-smoked’. The screenwriter Eric Red said the ...Yesterday -
Politics - The Hill
Trump campaign blasts Woodward; denies secret Putin calls
Former President Trump's campaign is rejecting accounts in journalist Bob Woodward's new book that the Republican presidential nominee has held multiple phone calls with Russian President Vladimir ...4 hours ago - Donald Trump -
World - The New York Times
Netanyahu Rebukes Macron’s Call for Arms Embargo on Israel
The French leader said countries should stop supplying weapons to Israel, arguing that providing arms while demanding a cease-fire is inconsistent. That drew the Israeli leader’s fury.6 hours ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Trump secretly gave Putin Covid test machines, Bob Woodward book says
‘Please don’t tell anybody,’ Russian president advised, according to new book from veteran Watergate reporter. US politics live – follow updates Donald Trump secretly sent Covid-19 testing ...2 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Business - CNBC
Bad call from Wall Street analysts on DuPont stock may be good news for investors
DuPont shares dropped Monday after Barclays downgraded the materials giant to a sell-equivalent rating and trimmed its price target.Yesterday -
Top stories - NBC News
Trump suggests immigrants have 'bad genes' after slamming Biden's border policing
In an interview on “The Hugh Hewitt Show” that aired Monday morning, former President Donald Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for her policies on the southern border and suggested that ...20 hours ago - Donald Trump -
World - The Guardian
Middle East crisis live: Joe Biden calls for end to war and civilian suffering as Israel remembers victims of 7 October
US president says deal to secure ceasefire that brings hostages home and allows humanitarian aid into Gaza must be priority. Pictures are beginning to come in from the site of the Nova music ...Yesterday - Joe Biden
More from The Hill
-
Politics - The Hill
Netanyahu says replacement for slain Hezbollah chief was killed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that his forces have killed the replacement for slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in another blow for the Lebanese militant group. ...35 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Supreme Court to decide whether Oklahoma must execute death row inmate
Richard Glossip, an Oklahoma death row inmate, has been scheduled for execution nine times — and each time, he has avoided that fate following legal twists and turns. Convicted for the 1997 ...40 minutes ago -
Politics - The Hill
Tampa mayor: If you stay in evacuation area, ‘you are going to die’
Tampa mayor Jane Castor is warning residents ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall that if they stay in the evacuation area, they will die. “The number one message, as it has been for several days ...1 hour ago -
Politics - The Hill
Harris backers praise Lina Khan at tech-focused fundraiser
Some Vice President Harris backers praised Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan at a tech-focused San Francisco fundraiser on Saturday headlined by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi ...1 hour ago - Kamala Harris -
Politics - The Hill
Harris slams Trump over Woodward’s Putin COVID-19 tests claim
Vice President Harris criticized former President Trump on Tuesday over journalist Bob Woodward's report that Trump sent COVID-19 tests to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has denied the ...1 hour ago - Donald Trump