Biden suggests Israel may be trying to influence the election by refusing to agree to ceasefire

Joe Biden has suggested that Israel could be attempting to interfere in the U.S. election by refusing to agree to ceasefires in Lebanon and Gaza.

The President did not definitively rule out the possibility that Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, was trying to influence the contest, when challenged by reporters on Friday afternoon.

“No administration has helped Israel more than I have – none, none, none,” Mr. Biden said.

“And I think Bibi [Mr. Netanyahu] should remember that, and whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on that.”

Israel ignored a U.S.-led initiative for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon before launching a ground invasion aimed at rooting out Hezbollah targets across the border.

The issue of Israel has become politically charged for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who is courting voters who both want to punish Israel for the Gaza war and stand by the Jewish state.

Jewish voters are also seen as critical in U.S. elections, with religious communities able to swing the election results if they vote in the same way.

Mr. Trump has recently argued that Jewish-American voters would be partly to blame if he loses the November 5 election.