Vice President Joe Biden said that he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are “still buddies,” trying to move past the controversy over a senior administration official calling the leader of Israel a “chickenshit.”
“Now, Ron, you better damn well report to Bibi that we’re still buddies,” Biden said in remarks to the Jewish Federations of North America, speaking directly to Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer.
“I signed a picture for Bibi a long time ago,” the vice president added. “I have a bad habit of — no one ever doubts I mean what I say. Sometimes I say all that I mean, though, and — and I signed a picture a long time for Bibi. He’s been a friend for over 30 years. I said, Bibi, ‘I don’t agree with a damn thing you say but I love you.’”
The remarks by Biden represent the first time the vice president has addressed his relationship with Netanyahu since senior administration officials in an interview with the Atlantic accused the Israeli prime minister of being a politician with little courage to back up his tough talk.
Biden went on to trumpet the administration’s commitment to Israel, even as relations between leaders of the two nations are at an all-time low under President Obama.
Netanyahu will address the Jewish group on Tuesday.
