"We'll Defend Ourselves Alone": The Confrontation Where Netanyahu Didn't Blink at Biden Revealed

An excerpt from the new book by Brett McGurk, former White House Middle East coordinator, reveals a direct confrontation between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden in spring 2024. Biden threatened to freeze military aid to Israel, but Netanyahu responded that Israel would defend itself alone. Despite the threats, the US helped intercept the Iranian attack in April 2024.

An excerpt from the new book by Brett McGurk, "Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages," reveals a direct confrontation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former US President Joe Biden in spring 2024. The background to the confrontation was the accidental killing of World Central Kitchen aid workers in Gaza on April 1, 2024. McGurk describes how Biden, surrounded in the Oval Office by Blinken and Sullivan, struggled to find leverage against Netanyahu and wondered in frustration: "What the hell am I supposed to say to this guy?" In the conversation, Biden told Netanyahu: "You think I'm Santa Claus? There's no Santa Claus in Israel, pal," and threatened to freeze military aid. Netanyahu replied that Israel would defend itself alone, presented the full military investigation, and refused to accept a dictate to end the war. Biden hung up in anger. However, on April 13, 2024, when Iran attacked, the Biden administration helped intercept the assault. Afterwards, Biden tried to prevent an Israeli response by saying "take the win," but Netanyahu did not bend. The article portrays Netanyahu as standing firm against heavy American pressure.