Washington, D.C. – President Joe Biden addressed the media on Friday in response to growing speculation that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might be attempting to influence the upcoming U.S. elections. When asked directly whether Netanyahu was involved, Biden replied, “Whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know – but I’m not counting on that.”
Biden also stressed the strong alliance between the U.S. and Israel, stating, “No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None, none, none. And I think [Netanyahu] should remember that.”
This exchange comes amid concerns from some Democrats that Netanyahu’s refusal to negotiate a ceasefire and secure a hostage release deal could be an attempt to harm Biden’s chances in the forthcoming elections. Earlier this week, Senator Chris Murphy told CNN, “You don’t have to be a hopeless cynic to see some of Netanyahu’s actions as being linked to the U.S. election.”
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Recent polls indicate that the ongoing violence in the Middle East, coupled with the failure to secure a ceasefire, is negatively affecting Biden’s approval ratings, particularly among Arab-American voters. Many of these voters are frustrated by the U.S.’s continued support for Israel’s military actions, which could potentially damage Biden’s re-election prospects, as well as those of his potential successor, Kamala Harris.
For several months, Biden has been working towards brokering a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, hinting that a deal was near. However, with no agreement yet in sight, Biden’s administration has voiced increasing frustration with Netanyahu. While the U.S. has mostly criticised Hamas for the impasse, Biden has made it clear that Netanyahu also needs to do more to reach a deal. Netanyahu, meanwhile, has dismissed U.S. claims that a resolution is close.
As the November elections approach, the ongoing tension between Biden and Netanyahu is expected to continue influencing both U.S. foreign policy and domestic politics.
