Biden to Netanyahu: ‘Stop Bullshitting Me’ Over Stalled Hamas Negotiations
United States President Joe Biden reportedly expressed frustration during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, allegedly telling him to “stop bullshitting me” after Netanyahu claimed that Israel was moving forward with negotiations on a hostages-for-cease-fire deal with Hamas. This comes amid ongoing tension between the two leaders over the prolonged nature of the Israel-Hamas conflict and stalled negotiations.
According to a Channel 12 news report, Biden’s blunt remark came after Netanyahu indicated that Israel would soon resume talks, a process that has been ongoing for months without significant results. Biden has previously speculated that Netanyahu might be stalling the negotiations for internal political reasons. The report also mentioned that Biden warned Netanyahu, saying, “Don’t take the president for granted.” This comment was reportedly made in the context of the strong Israeli-American cooperation, particularly concerning the potential for a broader conflict involving Iran and its regional proxies.
Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the content of the private discussions with President Biden but stated that the Israeli premier does not interfere in American politics and expects the same from the United States. The White House has not issued an official comment on the alleged exchange, and the Israeli government has maintained its stance of not confirming or denying responsibility for the assassination of Haniyeh.
The New York Times added that Biden expressed concerns over the timing of the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, suggesting it could hinder ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages, potentially sparking a regional conflict. Netanyahu reportedly blamed Hamas for the stalled negotiations. Additionally, a Telegraph report suggested that Netanyahu has become more emboldened in his actions against Iran since Biden announced his decision not to run for re-election in 2024, with the Israeli leader believing that he still has full US support.
