Biden Netanyahu call/ Middle East conflict/ U.S.-Israel relations/ Trump foreign policy/ election 2024/ Biden Netanyahu call/ Middle East conflict/ U.S.-Israel relations/ Trump foreign policy/ election 2024/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a critical call Wednesday amid escalating Mideast tensions. As Israel’s conflict with Hezbollah intensifies, Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, discussed strategies while urging caution with Iran. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump recently spoke with Netanyahu, highlighting foreign policy as a focal point in the upcoming U.S. election.
Biden and Netanyahu Hold First Call in Weeks Amid Rising Tensions – Quick Looks
- Timing: First Biden-Netanyahu call in seven weeks as Mideast crisis escalates.
- Iran Strategy: Biden advises against direct strikes on Iranian oil infrastructure.
- U.S. Election Angle: Trump also spoke with Netanyahu, highlighting foreign policy differences.
- Regional Escalation: Israel expands operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Biden and Netanyahu Discuss Mideast Crisis as Trump Weighs In
Deep Look
In their first conversation in weeks, President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East. With Vice President Kamala Harris joining the call, the two leaders focused on the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Israel’s response options regarding Iran, following its recent missile strike. As the crisis unfolds, the conflict’s ripple effects are being felt on the campaign trail, where foreign policy is now a major point of contention in the U.S. presidential race.
According to the White House, Biden emphasized to Netanyahu the need for caution in considering retaliatory strikes on Iran, advising that an attack on Iran’s oil sector could destabilize global energy markets and drive up fuel prices—a scenario that could impact Harris’s standing among undecided voters in the race. Instead, Biden encouraged Israel to explore alternative strategies.
Netanyahu’s office also confirmed a recent call between the Israeli leader and former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for president. Trump, now engaged in a close race with Harris, called to express support for Israel’s operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt commented, “World leaders want to speak and meet with President Trump because they know he will soon be returning to the White House and will restore peace around the globe.”
Tensions between Biden and Netanyahu have recently intensified, with Biden privately voicing frustration over Netanyahu’s approach to the crisis. The leaders have diverged on calls for cease-fires in Gaza, which would facilitate the release of over 100 hostages held by Hamas since the October 2023 attack on Israel and temporarily de-escalate conflicts with Hezbollah. Biden has reportedly been frustrated with Netanyahu’s apparent resistance to U.S.-backed peace initiatives, even questioning if the Israeli leader’s decisions are tied to the upcoming U.S. election.
Biden’s caution toward an Iranian oil strike comes after U.S. assistance helped Israel fend off a barrage of missiles from Iran on October 1. While Biden is unwilling to endorse a strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, he has acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself. Netanyahu’s response options reportedly range from a symbolic airstrike to targeting infrastructure sites, as Israel expands its ground operations along the northern Lebanese border.
Israel’s confrontations with Hezbollah have been ongoing, with Israeli forces targeting Hezbollah’s leadership through sabotage operations and airstrikes. The militant group continues to launch missiles and drones across the border, and recent Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah. Adding to regional volatility, last month’s covert detonation of explosives in Hezbollah communication devices killed and maimed thousands of civilians, with Israel widely suspected of orchestrating the attack.
The United States has increased troop presence in the Middle East, monitoring Israel’s response closely to safeguard American forces and interests in the region. Meanwhile, Washington has pressed Israeli officials to communicate closely with the U.S. on security decisions, ensuring that American personnel in the region are protected.
In a revelation from Bob Woodward’s new book, War, Biden expressed concerns about Netanyahu, allegedly describing him as a “son of a b——” and a “bad f——— guy,” indicating a strained relationship between the two leaders. According to the book, Biden felt Netanyahu’s statements about “killing every last member of Hamas” were both extreme and impractical. Woodward suggests Biden even considered withholding U.S. weapons shipments in protest of Israel’s approach, underscoring the tension between the allies.
As the U.S. election approaches, the situation in the Middle East casts a complex shadow over the campaign. Arab-American voters in key swing states like Michigan have voiced dissatisfaction with Biden’s policies toward Gaza, a sentiment that could affect Harris’s voter support. Trump has criticized the administration’s foreign policy decisions as ineffective, positioning himself as a stronger candidate for international stability.
With election day drawing nearer, Biden and Netanyahu’s relationship—and their divergent strategies—may influence not only the Mideast crisis but also the outcome of the U.S. presidential race. As the Biden administration and Israeli officials strategize in the coming weeks, the dynamics of this longstanding alliance will likely remain a focal point for voters evaluating the candidates’ foreign policy approaches.
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