In ‘obvious contrast’ with Netanyahu, Biden put country first by leaving race — US official

US President Joe Biden’s decision to put the national interest above his personal ambition will be placed in stark contrast with the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli premier comes to Washington this week, a senior administration official tells The Times of Israel.

Explaining his decision to forgo his initial desire to seek reelection, Biden in his Sunday announcement wrote, “I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.”

In a biting critique of Netanyahu, the senior administration official speaking on condition of anonymity argued that Biden’s message of putting the country first “creates the obvious contrast of how he has chosen to act, and how Bibi has acted.”

“It’s not just a disagreement over policy that has led so many people in Israel to call for Bibi to step aside. It’s also a belief that he’s taking other things into account besides the national interest by continuing this war and sabotaging a hostage deal,” the senior administration official charges.