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President Biden’s relationship with Israel remains strong, the White House insisted Tuesday, downplaying excerpts from a forthcoming book by journalist Bob Woodward that says Mr. Biden expressed his mounting frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in profane terms.
“The commitment that we have with Israel is ironclad,” senior deputy White House press secretary Emilie Simons told reporters en route to Wisconsin on Air Force One.
Mr. Woodward’s book says Mr. Biden called Mr. Netanyahu a liar, a “son of a b——” and “a bad f——— guy” as frustrations with Mr. Netanyahu’s military campaign in Gaza mounted earlier this year, according to excerpts obtained by CNN.
Pressed on whether the U.S.-Israel relationship was damaged, the White House said it wouldn’t comment on every anecdote in books or other reporting.
“The relationship between Netanyahu and the president goes back decades. They can have very honest and straightforward conversations with each other,” Ms. Simons said.
Palestinian Hamas militants launched a campaign of terror in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, resulting in some 1,200 deaths and hundreds of hostages being taken. Israel responded with a massive military campaign against Hamas in response, though thousands of civilians have died in the crossfire.
For months, Mr. Biden has sought a cease-fire to bring the hostages home and pause the Israeli assault on Gaza. But he’s been frustrated in his efforts, with both Hamas and Mr. Netanyahu balking at details of the proposed plan. Instead, the war is escalating with an exchange of attacks between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and clashes between the Jewish state and Iran.
According to Mr. Woodward’s book, Mr. Biden said, “Bibi, what the f—-?” after one strike targeting leaders of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon in July.
“You know the perception of Israel around the world increasingly is that you’re a rogue state, a rogue actor,” Mr. Biden reportedly told Mr. Netanyahu.
Ms. Simons pointed to a conversation between Mr. Biden and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the country’s nonpartisan head of state, on the Oct. 7 anniversary as a sign of a healthy relationship between the countries.
“The relationship between the United States and Israel is as strong as ever,” Ms. Simons said.
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