In his forthcoming memoir, Promise Me, America, set to be released on November 17, former US President Joe Biden sharply criticises Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden reveals that Netanyahu repeatedly promised to minimise civilian casualties in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, but routinely failed to honour his word. Describing a recurring pattern, Biden writes that aggressive military actions invariably followed Netanyahu’s assurances, demonstrating that the Israeli leader “had no qualms about making promises he had no power—or intention—to keep.”
Biden also expresses deep frustration with Netanyahu’s failure to think “like a statesman” regarding Israel’s long-term interests. The offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of nearly 75,000 Palestinians and displaced almost the entire population, drawing international condemnation and accusations of genocide.
Additionally, Biden uses the memoir to defend his decision to seek a 2024 re-election bid, pushing back against critics who blamed his age and June debate performance for the Democratic Party’s loss. He challenges former special counsel Robert Hur’s characterisation of his memory, noting that his interviews occurred immediately following the October 7 crisis.
Biden also revisits the controversy surrounding classified documents discovered at his home and office, shedding light on the legal ordeal faced by his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer.
