President Joe Biden, frustrated by his failure to persuade Israel to change its military tactics in Gaza, sees Benjamin Netanyahu as a major obstacle and has used the word “dog” at least three times in private conversations when referring to him. several people familiar with the discussions told NBC News, News.ro reported.

Biden said he was trying to get Israel to agree to a ceasefire, but Netanyahu was “making his life hell” and impossible to deal with, said people familiar with Biden’s statements, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“He thinks enough is enough and he needs to stop,” one of the people said of Biden’s comments.

In recent weeks, Biden has spoken privately about Netanyahu, a leader he has known for decades, with a frankness that surprised those who heard his comments, sources told NBC. His comments about his relationship with Netanyahu are peppered with disparaging remarks about him. He calls the Israeli prime minister “that guy,” these people said. And Biden has called Netanyahu a “dog” at least three times recently, according to three people directly familiar with his comments.

Asked about Biden’s private comments about Netanyahu, a spokesman for the National Security Council said the two leaders have developed a respectful relationship. “The president has made it clear where he disagrees with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but it is a relationship that spans decades and is respectful both publicly and privately,” the spokesman said.

But the frankness of Biden’s uncensored comments about Netanyahu, as well as the Israeli prime minister’s refusal to change tactics in Gaza, indicate that the dynamic between the two leaders is approaching a tipping point.

Biden told Netanyahu by phone on Sunday that he believed “a military operation in Rafah should not occur without a credible and feasible plan” to protect and support the Palestinians hiding there, the White House said in a statement. . Much of their 45-minute conversation focused on the long-discussed but repeatedly delayed deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a pause in military operations and the release of Palestinian prisoners, the White House said.

On Thursday, Biden spoke much more sharply and called Israel’s military attack on Gaza “over the top.” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken was also very outspoken last week after meeting with Netanyahu in Israel. Blinken said he told Netanyahu that the number of Palestinian civilians killed every day by Israeli military operations “remains far too high.”

Biden administration officials discuss delaying or slowing arms sales to Israel

However, people familiar with Biden’s private comments said he told them he believed it would be counterproductive for him to be too tough on Netanyahu publicly. In addition, Biden’s frustration with Netanyahu has not led to major policy changes, but his administration has begun to consider such options, NBC reported. Officials told NBC News two weeks ago that the administration was discussing delaying or slowing U.S. arms sales to Israel as leverage to pressure Netanyahu to scale back Israeli military operations in Gaza and do more to protect civilians.

In another potential policy shift, NBC reported last week that administration officials were developing options for formally recognizing an independent Palestinian state.

However, even as Biden has stepped up his rhetoric, he is not yet ready to make major policy changes, officials say. He and his advisers continue to believe that his approach of unequivocal support for Israel is the right one.

Some Democrats in Congress have called for conditions on US aid to Israel. Other Democrats, including military veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, have questioned Israel’s tactics, arguing that heavy bombing and heavy civilian casualties are counterproductive methods that risk further fueling extremists.

In some of the darkest moments of recent private conversations, the president reportedly said Netanyahu wanted the war to drag on so he could stay in power, three people familiar with his comments said.

At a fundraiser Biden attended in recent weeks, he spoke about Israel and his frustration with Netanyahu to a small group of donors. “He said Bibi started off great but lately she’s been in the way. She has been killing me lately,” the president said, according to a person present.