Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear: He wouldn’t trust the Biden administration with sensitive war plans.
In a bold statement, Netanyahu revealed that he refused to inform former President Joe Biden about planned military strikes against Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, fearing that the White House would leak the information.
His exact words?
“I said over my dead body, it won’t happen, because they’ll leak it.”
That’s a strong accusation from the leader of one of America’s closest allies. But given recent history, was he wrong to be concerned?
Tensions between Israel and Hamas have been high since the October 7, 2023, attacks, when Hamas terrorists slaughtered Israeli civilians in a brutal surprise assault.
In response, Israel launched military operations in Gaza, with strong initial support from the U.S. government. However, as the war continued, cracks in the U.S.-Israel relationship became more visible.
One major issue was how Biden wanted Israel to fight this war. His administration repeatedly pressured Netanyahu to scale back military actions, avoid striking Hamas leaders, and prioritize ceasefires.
In other words, while Netanyahu was trying to destroy a terrorist organization that just massacred Israeli citizens, the Biden team was worried about diplomacy and public relations.
Then, there’s the issue of security leaks. Netanyahu’s fears weren’t baseless.
In 2024, highly classified U.S. intelligence on Israel’s war plans was leaked—right into the hands of pro-Iranian groups. The documents, originally from the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency, detailed Israel’s plans to attack Iran.
These leaks caused massive concerns that someone in the Biden administration might be deliberately sharing information to pressure Israel into changing its tactics.
America and Israel have long been close allies, but under Biden, the relationship became rocky.
The president openly criticized Netanyahu’s military strategy, pushing for a more “measured” approach. He also warned Israel against attacking Hamas strongholds without a plan to avoid civilian casualties.
Critics argue that Biden’s stance put Israel in a dangerous position. How can a country fight a war against terrorists while worrying about being second-guessed by an ally?
Some say Netanyahu’s refusal to share war plans was a sign of Israel standing on its own, refusing to let Washington dictate how it defended itself. Others, including some in Biden’s party, claim Netanyahu was making reckless decisions to maintain power in Israel and even influence the U.S. election.
Democrats and left-leaning analysts argue that Netanyahu was using this crisis to protect his political career.
Facing corruption charges at home, he has aligned with hard-right political partners to maintain his grip on power. Some even claim he’s dragging out the war to keep his opponents weak and distracted.
But for many in Israel, this isn’t about politics—it’s about survival.
Hamas has repeatedly vowed to wipe Israel off the map. The idea of slowing down military operations just to satisfy the Biden administration didn’t sit well with Israelis who still remember the horror of October 7.
Netanyahu’s decision to withhold war plans from Biden was a major moment in U.S.-Israel relations. It signaled that Israel was willing to act alone if necessary and that trust between the two countries had been seriously damaged.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
