‘Bibi, What the F—k?’ New Book Reveals Details of Biden and Netanyahu’s Strained Relationship

Veteran journalist Bob Woodward reveals new details about the strained relationship between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s over the past year in a new book.

Woodward, a prominent investigative journalist, is coming out with a new book titled War on Oct. 15. In it, he reveals just how deep the fracture has become in the relationship between the current leaders of the US and Israel, according to CNN, which obtained an advanced copy of the work.

A striking moment came after Israel killed Fuad Shakr, a top Hezbollah terrorist who was also instrumental in killing hundreds of Americans in the Beirut bombing in 1983, in Lebanon in July. There was a bounty for millions of dollars put on him by the US.

“Bibi, what the f—k?” Biden yelled at Netanyahu after the strike, according to CNN’s reporting of Woodward’s book. “You know the perception of Israel around the world increasingly is that you’re a rogue state, a rogue actor.”

Netanyahu responded that the target of the strike was “one of the leading terrorists.”

“We saw an opportunity and took it,” Netanyahu said. “The harder you hit, the more successful you’re going to be in the negotiation.”

But the problems started well before July. After Biden pushed hard for Israel not to enter the southern Gaza city of Rafah to fight Hamas terrorists — and Israel conducted major ground operations there anyway — Biden reportedly exclaimed, “He’s a f—king liar,” speaking about Netanyahu.

When discussing the decision about whether to go into Rafah, Biden said to Netanyahu, “What’s your strategy, man?”

Netanyahu reportedly evaded giving specifics, opting instead to say, “We have to go into Rafah” — which prompted Biden to retort, “Bibi, you’ve got no strategy.”

Biden reportedly saw his job as reigning in Israeli responses to attacks from foreign terrorists and countries such as Iran. After Iran launched a large barrage of ballistic and cruise missiles — along with drones — at Israel in April, CNN reported that Biden told Israel: “You don’t need to make another move. Do nothing,” in response to the major attack.

Reflecting on his strategy, he told his advisers, according to Woodward, “I know he’s going to do something, but the way I limit it is tell him to ‘Do nothing.'”

A similar situation is arising again now, in the aftermath of Iran’s major ballistic missile attack on Israel last week, which featured 181 missiles and came in response to Israel assassinating major Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist leaders in Lebanon and Iran.

The United States is worried that Israel’s response could trigger a wider war — particularly if Israel targets Iran’s nuclear facilities. Consequently, Netanyahu and Biden spoke on the phone on Wednesday.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre called the call “direct and productive,” but did not give additional details.

This was the first time the two leaders spoke since August, underscoring the worsening relationship between them.

Netanyahu also spoke with former US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu’s team said Trump “congratulated him on the intense and determined operations that Israel carried out against Hezbollah.”

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