Joe Biden isn’t sure if Israel is blocking the peace deal to tilt the election

“No administration has helped Israel more than mine,” Biden said. “None. None, none. And I think Bibi should remember that. And if she’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on it.”

Biden, in a rare appearance in the White House press briefing room, was responding to comments made by one of his allies, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who told CNN this week that he was concerned that Netanyahu was not interested in a peace agreement in part because of US policy.

The two leaders have long managed a complicated relationship but are running out of room to maneuver as their views on the Gaza war diverge and their political future hangs in the balance.

The president has long pushed for a cease-fire agreement, and he and his aides have indicated several times in recent months that such an agreement is close. But it never seems to materialize, and in some cases Netanyahu has publicly resisted the prospect, while US and Israeli officials continue to privately discuss striking a deal.

Meanwhile, Israel continued on two fronts, pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah that killed eight Israeli soldiers and carrying out strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children. And the nation has vowed to retaliate for Iran’s ballistic missile attack this week as the region braces for further escalation.

Biden said no decision had yet been made on what kind of response to Iran, although there had been talk of Israel striking Iran’s oil fields – and “I think if I were in their shoes, I would think of other alternatives. than hitting the oil fields”.

Biden rejected the idea that he was seeking a meeting with Netanyahu to discuss the response to Iran. It isn’t, he said.

“I suppose when they make a decision about how they’re going to respond, then we’ll have a discussion,” he said.

Netanyahu has grown increasingly resistant to Biden’s public charm offensives and private pleas, prompting a firmer rejection of the president. And Biden has publicly halted the delivery of heavy bombs to Israel and has increasingly expressed concern about an all-out war in the Middle East.

“I don’t think it’s going to be all-out war,” Biden said Thursday night. “I think we can avoid it. But there is still much to do. There’s still a lot to do.”

Biden has remained consistent in his support for Israel’s defense and security in the wake of the deadly October 7 attacks by Hamas in Israel. Since then, with few exceptions, Biden has supported ongoing and enhanced US arms transfers to Israel while warning the Israelis to be careful in their responses to avoid civilian casualties.

Biden also ordered the US military to step up its profile in the region to protect Israel from attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iran itself. In April, and again earlier this week, the US was a leading player in shooting down missiles fired by Iran at Israel.