U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) has raised concerns that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be attempting to influence the outcome of the upcoming American presidential election by continuing his military campaigns against Iran and Iranian-backed terrorist groups. In an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett, Murphy stated that he was worried about the possibility that Netanyahu’s actions could be influenced by the U.S. election.
The Hill reported that Senator Murphy is concerned that Prime Minister Netanyahu may be deliberately escalating tensions in the Middle East by refusing to sign a peace deal with Hamas and aggressively confronting Hezbollah in Lebanon, thereby increasing the likelihood of a broader war. This comes as deep divisions persist within the Democratic Party over the war in Gaza.
Murphy’s concerns were further emphasized when he was asked during a White House briefing if Netanyahu was trying to influence the election. President Joe Biden responded, “No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None. None. And I think Bibi should remember that.” The president added that he doesn’t know whether Netanyahu is attempting to sway the election but is not counting on it.
Over the past week, Israel has been targeted by approximately 200 ballistic missiles from Iran. Additionally, Israeli soldiers have discovered large amounts of weapons in Lebanon, near the border, which were intended for use in an October 7-style attack on northern Israel. These events have led to speculation about the potential influence that Netanyahu’s military actions may have on the U.S. presidential election and the future of Israeli-American relations.