Biden knows well that Netanyahu is seeking a confrontation with his administration to serve his political needs

US President Joe Biden has a strange quality: he means what he says. When he said that “Vladimir Putin is a war criminal,” he meant it. When he said that “the United States will defend Taiwan,” he meant it, and when he said that he was “committed to defending Israel’s security,” he meant it. Therefore, when he said, “I disagree with a word Netanyahu says,” he meant it. When he says, “The international situation has turned upside down,” he not only means that, but he makes it clear that this is causing political harm to the United States, and to him personally.

When Israelis try to understand the meaning of Biden's words, there is one equation that must be clear: Biden loves Israel, but he does not love Netanyahu. Biden believes in Israel, but he does not believe in Netanyahu. He considers Israel an ally of the United States, but he does not consider Netanyahu an ally. The one who realizes this well is Netanyahu himself, who will turn Biden's statements into evidence that the American president is trying to overthrow him, while he, with his extreme heroism, is leading Israel into the war.

Biden not only believes that “Netanyahu must change his government,” but he is certain that it is better for Netanyahu not to be prime minister. Although Biden said that he “likes” him, the Israeli reader must understand that in American language it is a word of endearment without obligation.

But what Biden meant in his statements regarding Netanyahu does not boil down to what exactly he said, which in itself is dangerous, but what is more dangerous lies in what he did not say. He has addressed two issues that have been permeating the circles around him for weeks: Netanyahu is seeking, by force, a confrontation with the American administration regarding two issues: first, the image and plan of managing the war and the political-security-authoritarian reality in Gaza, or the so-called “the day after”; Second, the United States assesses that Netanyahu strongly hopes and encourages an escalation - through the Houthis, or through Hezbollah - that drags the United States into the war.

In both cases, the motive is political and for survival. First, Netanyahu hopes to hold the United States accountable for having prevented him from achieving a historic victory that changes reality. Secondly, he hopes to crystallize awareness and a new narrative: the massive failure on October 7 could have been transformed into a strategic achievement, had the United States attacked Iran. It does not matter whether this happened, or did not happen. What is important at this moment, in Netanyahu’s eyes, is to distance himself from October 7. The army and the Shin Bet misled him and let him down. But the miracle is that he came back to his senses, and as a historic leader, he was about to bring about tactical geopolitical change, until Biden restrained him.

Biden's statements are important, in and of themselves, because they are public. Biden has said similar things regarding internal or political events in recent weeks. Biden not only does not “agree with a word Netanyahu says,” he also does not believe a word he says. He is convinced that Netanyahu is seeking confrontation, and it is important for him to appear like Rambo who is standing in the face of American pressure. Biden is convinced that Netanyahu is waging a political campaign and trying to rewrite history.

For example, yesterday, Netanyahu entered into a historical analysis of Israeli-American relations. He said that David Ben-Gurion was a great leader, but at the moment of truth he “succumbed to American pressure” (meaning Ben-Gurion’s response to President Dwight Eisenhower’s request to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula in the period 1956-1957, after Operation Kadesh). Netanyahu added, "A prime minister cannot stand in the face of American pressure. He must not approach the prime minister's office."

Netanyahu, the legendary hero who considers himself like a phoenix in the sky of Jewish history, distorts history, as usual, and puts it at the service of his needs. There is no comparison between the year 1957 and the year 2023, from the standpoint of geopolitical conditions, especially the conditions of subordination relations between Israel and the United States. In 1957, relations were cold and distant. The only similarity is that the heads of Israeli governments, at the time, were not received at the White House, and this is what happened with Netanyahu since he formed his government in the year 2022.

Biden is well versed in history. When he says that he “has known Netanyahu for 51 years,” these words are not evidence of the love that has endured over the years. Rather, he remembers that Netanyahu lied to Bill Clinton, to Barack Obama, and lied to Donald Trump, and he lies to Biden. Since he was Vice President, he visited Israel in 2010.

Politically, Biden's statements are of great importance: they indicate the emergence of a real gap in positions and policies between Israel and the United States, and the impatience of Washington.