President Biden Expresses Frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu in Hot Mic Moment
In a candid moment captured on a hot mic, President Joe Biden expressed his growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The exchange took place on the floor of the House chamber following Thursday night’s State of the Union address, where Biden was congratulated by Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. The conversation quickly turned to the humanitarian concerns in Gaza, with Bennet urging the president to press Netanyahu on the matter.
Biden’s response was revealing. Referring to Netanyahu by his nickname, Bibi, the president stated, “I told him, Bibi, and don’t repeat this, but you and I are going to have a ‘come to Jesus’ meeting.” However, it seems that Biden was unaware that microphones were still picking up his words. An aide discreetly alerted him to this fact, prompting Biden to jokingly remark, “I’m on a hot mic here. Good. That’s good.”
President Biden did not shy away from acknowledging the comments when questioned by reporters the following day. Light-heartedly chiding them for eavesdropping on his conversation, he affirmed that he believed Netanyahu should be doing more to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza has been dire, with a widening humanitarian crisis and severe food shortages affecting the entire population. The United Nations has warned that Israel’s siege and offensive have pushed the Palestinian territory towards famine. Biden has been increasingly vocal about his frustration with the Netanyahu government’s reluctance to open more land crossings for critically needed aid.
In his State of the Union address, President Biden called on Israel to prioritize humanitarian assistance and not use it as a bargaining chip. He announced that the U.S. military would assist in establishing a temporary pier to boost aid delivery to Gaza. Last week, the U.S. military began air dropping aid into the region. Biden emphasized that the temporary pier would significantly increase the amount of humanitarian assistance reaching Gaza.
However, despite these efforts, Biden expressed concerns about the prospects of an extended cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. With Ramadan expected to begin on Sunday, the president acknowledged that achieving a peaceful resolution was looking tough. He also voiced worries about violence spreading to East Jerusalem, where clashes have historically occurred during Ramadan between Palestinians and Israeli security forces.
The frustration between President Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu is palpable, with Biden’s hot mic moment shedding light on the tensions between the two leaders. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, it remains to be seen how their relationship will evolve and what actions will be taken to address the pressing concerns in the region.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information from an AP news report. The quotes and facts presented are derived from that source and are not original to this article.
