Category: News, World

Biden Netanyahu Gaza Ceasefire Conflict: Election Influence?

Biden Questions Netanyahu's Gaza Ceasefire Stance Amid Election Concerns

President Joe Biden has expressed uncertainty over whether Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is stalling on agreeing to a Gaza ceasefire deal to influence the upcoming US election. During a surprise appearance at a White House press briefing on Friday, Biden responded to a question about Netanyahu’s motivations, stating, “Whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know – but I’m not counting on that.”

Biden, known for his longstanding support for Israel, also took the opportunity to remind Netanyahu of the assistance provided by his administration. “No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None, none, none,” he emphasized, adding that Netanyahu should remember that support.

Concerns Among Democrats

Several Democrats have voiced concerns over Netanyahu’s apparent reluctance to heed Biden’s calls for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. These concerns suggest that the Israeli prime minister may be attempting to undermine the Democratic Party’s chances in the upcoming November election. Earlier this week, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy stated, “I don’t think you have to be a hopeless cynic to read some of Israel’s actions, some of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions, as connected to the American election.”

Polls indicate that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the failure to reach a diplomatic resolution are negatively impacting Biden’s popularity, as well as that of Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate set to replace him. Specifically, Biden’s approval rating among Arab-Americans has dropped significantly, largely due to continued US support for Israel’s military operations, a trend that could impact the party’s chances in November.

Push for a Diplomatic Agreement

Biden has been advocating for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas for months, and he has indicated on several occasions that a deal is near. Securing a deal before the election would be a major political win for both Biden and the Democratic Party. However, such an outcome appears increasingly unlikely.

While the Biden administration has mainly criticized Hamas for the lack of progress, the president has also expressed mounting frustration with Netanyahu, recently stating that the Israeli leader is not doing enough to finalize a ceasefire deal. Netanyahu has rejected the notion that an agreement is close, stating, “Hamas is not there with a deal. There’s not a deal in the making, unfortunately.” This statement came just hours after a US official said that the agreement was 90% complete.

Biden-Netanyahu Relationship Turns Fractious

The increasingly strained relationship between Biden and Netanyahu is a stark contrast to Netanyahu’s previous friendship with former President Donald Trump, the current Republican nominee. Meanwhile, Israel has continued its strikes on Gaza, advanced its ground invasion in southern Lebanon, and vowed retaliation against a recent Iranian ballistic missile attack.

During his press briefing on Friday, Biden also addressed concerns regarding Israel potentially striking Iranian oil fields in retaliation for the missile attack. “The Israelis have not concluded what they are going to do in terms of a strike,” Biden said. “If I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields.” Biden’s earlier remarks on potential US-Israeli discussions about strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure caused a rise in oil prices on Thursday.

The Road Ahead

As tensions continue to escalate, Biden’s comments underscore the precarious nature of the relationship between the US and Israel at this critical juncture. Both leaders, despite their history of cooperation, appear to be at odds over the approach to securing peace in Gaza. As the US election draws closer, the impact of the Middle East conflict on American politics and Biden’s leadership is coming under increasing scrutiny.