Israel’s National Security Minister has apologised after his son said US President Joe Biden was like an Alzheimer’s patient.
Shuvael Ben Gvir, son of Itamar Ben Gvir, tweeted a photo of Biden with the caption and added: “In these difficult times it is important to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s, a degenerative brain disease that is the most common cause of cognitive decline and dementia.
“A serious disease that affects a person’s functions and ability.”
Security Minister Ben Gvir, a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, apologised for his son’s comments.
He said it was a “serious mistake with a tweet I deeply disapprove of.”
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Ben Gvir continued: “The United States of America is our great friend and President Biden is a friend of Israel. Even if I have a disagreement with his conduct, there is no room, God forbid, for a disparaging style. I apologise for my son’s words.”
His son also apologised, tweeting a picture of Biden with the caption: “Mr President, sorry!”
The apologies come just two days after Ben Gvir was highly critical of President Biden in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
He said Biden’s administration has benefited from Hamas and that Israel would have been better off if Donald Trump was in the White House.
He also recently said Israel was “not another star in the American flag” in a swipe at the US’ stance on the war in Gaza.
Washington has provided military and diplomatic support to Israel since Hamas’ October 7 attack, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed.
But Israel’s military campaign has killed 27,000 people in Gaza, causing concern among leaders in the US.
Biden has warned Israel against “indiscriminate bombing” and even reportedly considered slowing weapons supplies to the country.
Reports this week have alleged that Biden branded Netanyahu a “bad f****** guy” in private discussions. The White House denied the claims.
Andrew Bates, Biden’s spokesperson, told Politico that “the president did not say that, nor would he,” adding that the two leaders’ “decades-long relationship is respectful in public and in private.”
