In the United States, the way in which Israel is waging its war divides the Democratic camp. Some accuse the Israeli Prime Minister of taking advantage of the electoral calendar.
US President Joe Biden had terse words for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday: “No administration has helped Israel more than me. None. None. None. And I think ‘Bibi’ should remember that.”he said, referring to the Israeli leader by his nickname. “I don’t know if he’s trying to influence the election, but I’m not counting on it.”
Joe Biden, during a rare appearance in the White House press room, was responding to statements from one of his allies, Senator Chris Murphy, who explained to CNN this week that he feared that Benjamin Netanyahu would is not interested in a peace agreement, in part because of American policies.
“I don’t think you have to be a hopeless cynic to think that certain actions of Israel, certain actions of Prime Minister Netanyahu, are linked to the American elections.”said Chris Murphy.
For Joe Biden, a diplomatic agreement would help resolve the deep division between Democrats on the war, and remove a thorn in the side of his vice-president Kamala Harris, candidate for his succession.
On the Israeli side, Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition would certainly abandon him if he ended the war. He could lose power and have to face his legal problems. Israel has just “eliminated” several leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, which does not encourage it to stop its “operations”.
Last week, the United States, France and other allies jointly called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but Israel’s prime minister rejected it, telling the assembled leaders for the United Nations General Assembly that Israel “would continue to strike Hezbollah until all our objectives are achieved.”
Israel has advanced on several fronts, killing Hezbollah leaders and continuing a ground incursion into Lebanon, while carrying out strikes in Gaza. The country also pledged to respond to Iran’s ballistic missile attack this week.
Fears about the price of oil
Oil prices rose 8% in a week, following fears that Israel could strike Iranian oil facilities.
Iran supplies the world with about 4% of its oil, or nearly 4 million barrels per day.
A rise in gas prices so close to the election would be a blow to Kamala Harris and her campaign to get elected.
Joe Biden said no decision had yet been made on what type of response to make to Iran, although “I think if I were in their place, I would think of other solutions than hitting the oil fields.”
“Israelis have every right to respond to the vicious attacks they face, not only from the Iranians, but from everyone from Hezbollah to the Houthis.”added the American president on Friday. “But the fact is they need to be much more careful when it comes to civilian casualties.”
Joe Biden also ordered the US military to strengthen its presence in the region to protect Israel against attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iran itself. In April, and again earlier this week, the United States played a leading role in shooting down missiles fired by Iran toward Israel.
Trump says Israel should attack Iranian nuclear sites
Also on Friday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told a campaign rally in North Carolina that Israel should attack Iran’s nuclear facilities.
During his term in office, Donald Trump maintained close relations with Benjamin Netanyahu.
ADVERTISEMENTWhile president, Donald Trump initiated policy changes that Benjamin Netanyahu applauded, including recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, moving the United States embassy there from Tel Aviv, recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the Golan Heights and overturning a decades-old US legal ruling that Jewish settlements in the West Bank were incompatible with international law.
