A “liar” who would be “only interested in his political survival”. This is what US President Joe Biden reportedly said about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the upcoming book by journalist Bob Woodward. This Tuesday, several pages of the work of this seasoned journalist were revealed by the American press.
A behind-the-scenes chronicler of the White House for half a century for the Washington PostBob Woodward revealed with Carl Bernstein the Watergate scandal which resulted in the resignation of President Nixon in 1974. In his book Warto be published on October 15, it describes in particular the vain efforts of President Joe Biden to stop the war waged by Israel in the Gaza Strip after the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
“You have no strategy”
Since the start of the conflict, American diplomacy has displayed its powerlessness to influence the way in which its ally conducts the war. According to the book, during a telephone conversation in April, Joe Biden asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu what his strategy was.
“We must return to Rafah,” the Israeli leader replied. “Bibi, you have no strategy,” retorted Joe Biden, using the nickname of the Israeli leader. The American president then allegedly complained to his advisers, saying that the Israeli Prime Minister was a “liar”, “only interested in his political survival”.
No end to arms deliveries yet
At the beginning of September, Joe Biden publicly estimated that Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to reach an agreement for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Despite his recriminations, the American president has so far refused to use the leverage of arms delivery to Israel to influence the policy of the Israeli government, apart from suspending a delivery of bombs in May.
According to the Washington PostVice President Kamala Harris makes a few appearances in Bob Woodward’s story, supporting Joe Biden’s positions but with a non-determining role for his foreign policy.
