Biden Says He Doesn't Know Whether Israel Is Holding Up Peace Deal to 'Influence' US Election

President Joe Biden had terse words for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, and said he did not know whether the Israeli leader was holding up a Mideast peace deal in order to influence the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election. "No administration has helped Israel more than I have, none. None, none.

And I think Bibi should remember that," he said, referring to the Israeli leader by his nickname.

"And whether he is trying to influence the election, I do not know but I am not counting on that." Biden, in a rare appearance in the White House press briefing room, was responding to comments made by one of his allies, Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who told CNN this week that he was concerned Netanyahu had little interest in a peace deal in part because of US politics.

"I do not 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," Murphy said. Biden and Netanyahu have l