Editorial image: Brendan Smialewski/AFP
According to American journalist Bob Woodward's upcoming book, US President Joe Biden strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the spring of 2024. The Times of Israel According to his report, the relationship between the two leaders became particularly tense due to the dire consequences of Israeli air strikes and military operations in the Middle East.
According to the book, during a phone conversation in April, Biden asked Netanyahu: “What’s your strategy, man?” Then he shouted: “You don’t have a strategy!”
Regarding the Israeli army's operation against Rafah and the liquidation of Hezbollah's leader, Biden is said to have strongly criticized Netanyahu, calling him a “liar” and “a traitor.”
According to the book, after the killing of Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr a few months ago, Biden criticized the Israeli leader again, warning that Israel's international reputation would deteriorate as a result. Netanyahu, who gave him his nickname, reportedly asked the question:
The journalist described that despite the continued escalation of tensions between the United States and Israel, Biden acknowledged that Israel responded with restraint to the Iranian attacks, which he considered positive. The book also mentions Secretary of State Antony Blinken's talks in Saudi Arabia, during which Israeli relations and the Palestinian issue were also on the agenda. The Saudi Crown Prince has reportedly said that normalizing relations with Israel will only be possible if a Palestinian state is created.
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