Washington: Former United States President Joe Biden has launched a scathing attack on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his upcoming memoir, “Promise Me, America”. Slated for release on November 17, the book reveals deep diplomatic tensions, with Biden accusing the Israeli leader of repeatedly breaking promises to minimise civilian casualties during the ongoing Gaza conflict.
According to excerpts published ahead of the release, the 83-year-old former president expressed profound frustration with Netanyahu’s handling of the military campaign following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. Biden disclosed that despite multiple private appeals urging the Israeli leadership to take precautionary measures for civilian safety, his concerns frequently fell on deaf ears.
“A familiar pattern established itself: He would promise to do more, and then another aggressive action would follow, killing more civilians,” Biden writes in the memoir. Questioning the Israeli prime minister’s credibility, he noted that Netanyahu, often referred to as “Bibi,” had no hesitation in making commitments he allegedly had no intention or power to keep.
The book sheds light on the strained relationship between the two leaders, who share a decades-long political history. Biden wrote that he was deeply disappointed by Netanyahu’s inability to think like a statesman. He accused the Israeli leader of prioritising his immediate political survival over safeguarding Israel’s long-term security and democratic institutions.
“While I understood that he was working under severe pressures, I was frustrated by his failure to think like a statesman and safeguard Israel’s long-term interests, not just his own short-term political needs,” the memoir details.
Despite his harsh criticism regarding the humanitarian toll in Gaza, Biden defended his administration’s continued provision of military assistance to Israel during his tenure. He explained that his primary duty as president was to support American allies and national interests, though he admitted that the immense loss of innocent Palestinian lives caused him deep sorrow.
These explosive revelations highlight the profound lack of trust that defined the US-Israel dynamic during one of the most turbulent periods in the Middle East. As of now, the Israeli leadership has not issued an official response to the claims made in the former president’s memoir.