US President Joe Biden said he is not sure whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delaying signing a ceasefire agreement in Gaza to influence the November presidential election.
“If he is trying to influence the elections, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on it,” he responded to a question from journalists at a press conference at the White House this Friday.
Biden’s participation in that meeting with reporters was not planned, so it caused surprise.
Afterwards, Biden addressed some blunt words to his long-time ally: “No government has helped Israel more than I have. None, none, none. and I think that [Netanyahu] I should remember that.”
Some Democrats have expressed concern that Netanyahu is ignoring the US president’s calls to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release agreement in order to damage the party’s chances in November.
Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told CNN: “I don’t think you have to be a hopeless cynic to interpret some of Israel’s actions, by Prime Minister Netanyahu, as things related to the American elections.”
Polls suggest that growing violence in the Middle East and the failure to reach a diplomatic agreement are hurting Biden and his replacement as the Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris.
The president’s approval rating among Arab Americans has plummeted over the past year, largely due to anger over U.S. support for Israel’s military campaign, and this could damage Democratic prospects in the presidential election. .
Biden has been pushing for months to reach a diplomatic agreement between Israel and Hamasand has indicated on several occasions that he is close to achieving it.
Getting it done before the election would be a huge boost for the president and the Democratic Party, but it looks increasingly unlikely.
While the Biden administration has mostly criticized Hamas for failing to reach a deal, the president has also expressed growing public frustration with Netanyahu, who he recently said was not doing enough to reach a deal.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has rejected suggestions from Washington that a deal is close.
“Hamas has not reached an agreement. Unfortunately, there is no deal in the works,” the Israeli prime minister said earlier this month, just hours after a U.S. official said the deal was 90% complete.
The increasingly contentious relationship between Biden and Netanyahu, who have known each other for decades, contrasts with the friendly relationship that the Israeli leader had with former President Donald Trump, the current Republican candidate.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued its attacks on Gaza and pressed ahead with a ground invasion into southern Lebanon. It has also vowed to respond to an Iranian ballistic missile attack this week.
Appearing at Friday’s news conference, which surprised reporters in the room because it was his first since becoming president four years ago, Biden responded to concerns that Israel could attack Iranian oil fields in retaliation.
“The Israelis have not yet decided what they will do about an attack. “If I were in your place, I would be thinking about alternatives other than attacking the oil fields,” he said.
Biden caused an increase in oil prices Thursday when he said the United States was discussing with Israel the possibility of attacks on Iran’s oil infrastructure.
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