President Joe Biden expresses growing dissatisfaction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to grow, with Democrats saying he and the Israeli leader should “come to a meeting with Jesus.” is captured by a hot microphone. ”
Biden's comments came as he spoke with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) on the House floor after Thursday night's State of the Union address.
In the exchange, Mr. Bennett congratulated Mr. Biden on his speech and urged the president to continue pressuring Mr. Netanyahu about the growing humanitarian concerns in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also participated in a brief conversation.
“I told him, Bibi, please don't repeat this, but you and I are going to 'come to Jesus' and have a meeting,” Biden responded, using Netanyahu's nickname. Ta.
A close aide to the president then spoke quietly into the president's ear, appearing to warn him that his microphone remained on while Biden worked in the room.
After receiving the warning, Biden said, “I'm using a hot mic here.'' “Good. That's good.”
The president acknowledged that statement on Friday, casually asking reporters if they were “eavesdropping” on his conversations. Asked if he thought Prime Minister Netanyahu should do more to alleviate humanitarian suffering, Biden said: “Absolutely.”
The unfolding humanitarian crisis across Gaza and Israel's tight control of aid trucks has left virtually the entire population in desperate need of food, according to the United Nations. Officials have been warning for months that the Israeli siege was pushing the Palestinian territories into famine.
Biden has increasingly made public his frustration with the Netanyahu government's unwillingness to open more land routes for vital aid to enter Gaza.
In his speech Thursday, he called on Israel to do more to alleviate suffering, even as it seeks to eliminate Hamas.
“I say to Israel that this humanitarian aid cannot be a secondary consideration or a bargaining chip,” Biden said.
In his speech Thursday, the president announced that the U.S. military will help set up a temporary pier, aimed at increasing the amount of aid entering the territory. The US military began airlifting aid to Gaza last week.
Biden said the temporary pier would “enable a significant increase in humanitarian assistance to Gaza.”
—
Associated Press writer Josh Bork contributed reporting.