WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� President Joe Biden had terse words for , and said he didn't know whether the Israeli leader was holding up a peace deal in order to influence the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
鈥淣o administration has helped Israel more than I have,鈥� Biden said. 鈥淣one. None, none. And I think Bibi should remember that. And whether he鈥檚 trying to influence the election, I don鈥檛 know but I鈥檓 not counting on that.鈥�
Biden, in a rare appearance in the White House press briefing room, was responding to comments made by one of his allies, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who said on CNN this week that he was concerned Netanyahu had little interest in a peace deal in part because of U.S. politics.
Israel has pressed forward on two fronts, pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah that left eight Israeli soldiers dead and conducting strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children. And the nation has vowed to retaliate for this week, as the region braced for further escalation.
Biden said there had been no decision yet on what type of response there would be toward Iran.
鈥淚鈥檓 assuming when they make a decision on how they鈥檙e going to respond, we will then have a discussion," he said.
Colleen Long, The Associated Press
