PRESIDENT of the United States (US) Joe Biden does not believe that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delaying the ceasefire agreement for the Gaza Strip, Palestine, to influence the United States presidential election next month.
“Is he trying to influence the election? I don’t know, but I don’t count on that,” Biden was quoted as saying by the BBC, Saturday (5/10).
Biden then addressed his old ally by saying that he was the president who had helped Israel the most. “No government has helped Israel more than mine. None, none, none,” he said. “And I think (Netanyahu) should keep that in mind.”
Also read: Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah Agrees to Ceasefire before Israeli Bombing
The increasingly strained relationship between Biden and Netanyahu, who have known each other for decades, contrasts with the friendly relationship the Israeli leader had with former president Donald Trump, the Republican US presidential nominee.
Meanwhile, Israel continued its attacks on Gaza and pushed forward with a ground invasion in southern Lebanon. Israel also vowed to respond to Iran’s ballistic missile attack this week.
At his press conference appearance on Friday (4/10), Biden responded to concerns that Israel could attack Iran’s oil fields in retaliation. “Israel has not yet concluded what they will do in terms of attacks,” he said. “If I were in their position, I would think of other alternatives than attacking the oil fields.”
Also read: Biden says Netanyahu is not serious about wanting a Gaza ceasefire
Biden caused oil prices to rise on Thursday when he said the US was in discussions with Israel about a possible attack on Iran’s oil infrastructure.
Some Democrats have raised concerns that Netanyahu ignored the US president’s call to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage release deal to damage the party’s chances in November.
Earlier this week, Democratic senator Chris Murphy said, “I don’t think you have to be a cynical, hopeless person to read some of Israel’s actions, some of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions, as having anything to do with the American elections.”
Also read: Apologizing, Netanyahu Remains Stubborn in Making Gaza Ceasefire Difficult
Polls show that escalating violence in the Middle East and failure to secure a diplomatic deal is hurting Biden and his Democratic successor, Kamala Harris.
Approval of the president among Arab Americans has plummeted over the past year. Much of this was due to anger over US support for Israel’s military campaign. This could damage the party’s prospects in November.
Biden has been pushing for a diplomatic deal between Israel and Hamas for months. He indicated several times that a deal was close. A deal before the election would be a major boost for the president and the Democratic Party, but that seems increasingly unlikely.
Meanwhile the Biden administration has largely criticized Hamas for failing to reach an agreement. The president has also expressed growing public frustration with Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has rejected suggestions from Washington that a deal is close. “Hamas is not there with a deal. Unfortunately, there is no deal in the making,” the Israeli prime minister said earlier this month, just hours after a US official said the deal was 90% complete. (Z-2)
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