By Ben Emos and Tony Bruce | Saturday, October 05, 2024 | 4 min read
Experts and world leaders are growing increasingly concerned over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s actions, suspecting that he may be trying to influence U.S. domestic politics by ignoring President Biden’s appeals for peace negotiations in Gaza. This suspicion is heightened by the timing, as tensions with Hezbollah and Iran continue to escalate just weeks ahead of the U.S. election.
Despite Biden extending unprecedented support to Israel—ranging from joint military planning to missile defense cooperation following Hamas’ attacks—Netanyahu has persisted with a hardline approach. His refusal to ease military aggression, coupled with the intensifying conflict, has raised alarms internationally, with many viewing these actions as politically motivated and potentially disruptive to Biden’s diplomatic efforts in the region.
The escalating conflict between Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran is undermining Biden’s diplomatic efforts for peace, while simultaneously providing former President Trump with an opportunity to assert that the world is “spiraling out of control” under Biden’s leadership.
The violence has adversely affected Biden’s approval ratings among Muslim Americans, a critical voting demographic, creating significant political risks for Vice President Harris, especially in Michigan, a crucial battleground state for Democrats. Taking advantage of the situation, Trump held a rally in Saginaw, Michigan, on Thursday, tapping into the growing discontent.
Netanyahu’s relationship with even the most pro-Israel Democrats is becoming increasingly strained, despite Biden’s strong support for Israel. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) stirred controversy in March by labeling Netanyahu a “major obstacle” to peace and calling for new elections in Israel. Around the same time, President Biden described Israel’s military offensive in Gaza as “over the top.”
In an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, voiced concerns that Netanyahu might be aligning his military decisions in Gaza and northern Israel with the U.S. election timeline. “I certainly worry that Prime Minister Netanyahu is watching the American election as he makes decisions,” Murphy stated, suggesting that Israel might delay signing any peace agreements to potentially sway the election outcome.
This suspicion is heightened by a recent poll conducted among 500 Arab American voters between Sept. 9-20, which indicated a virtual tie between Trump and Harris, with Trump leading slightly at 42 percent to Harris’s 41 percent. This represents a significant decline in support for the Biden-Harris administration compared to the 2020 election, where Biden secured 59 percent of the Arab American vote.
A senior Senate Democratic aide supported Murphy’s concerns, emphasizing Netanyahu’s long-standing reputation for meddling in U.S. politics. The aide suggested that Netanyahu’s actions appear designed to influence the American election, potentially impacting the Jewish vote while also risking the erosion of support from Arab American voters.
The aide highlighted Netanyahu’s July speech to Congress, where he declared “total victory” and referred to American anti-war protesters, many of whom are progressives, as “useful idiots” aiding Israel’s adversaries. “He understands American politics,” the aide asserted, noting that Netanyahu’s influence on U.S. elections is widely recognized among Democrats on Capitol Hill.
Alon Pinkas, a former adviser to Israeli prime ministers Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres, remarked that Netanyahu’s history of meddling in American politics dates back to the 1990s. He cited Netanyahu’s opposition to President Bill Clinton during the 1996 election, his alignment with then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, and his support for GOP candidates such as Mitt Romney in 2012 and Trump in 2020. Pinkas also pointed out Netanyahu’s vocal opposition to President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran, labeling it a “very bad deal” during a 2015 speech to Congress.
David Rothkopf, a former official in the Clinton administration, highlighted the validity of Democrats’ concerns regarding Netanyahu’s military actions and their potential impact on the 2024 U.S. presidential election. Rothkopf noted that unrest in the Middle East could reflect negatively on the Biden administration, despite ongoing efforts by Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to broker a cease-fire with Israel. Although Netanyahu had initially agreed to a cease-fire in private negotiations, he later backed away, intensifying regional tensions.
Recent Israeli actions, including the assassinations of key Hezbollah and Hamas leaders and attacks on civilian infrastructure in Beirut, have further escalated the situation. In response, President Biden has called for justice for Hezbollah’s victims while reiterating the need for diplomatic solutions to de-escalate conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon.
As the violence continues, Biden remains committed to pursuing a cease-fire deal and a broader peace agreement aimed at stabilizing the region. However, with the U.S. election on the horizon, the implications of Netanyahu’s actions and their potential impact on the election remain contentious within the Democratic Party.
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