Biden: I don't know if Israel is holding up the peace agreement to influence the US election

President Joe Biden said Friday that he did not know if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was holding up peace talks to influence the outcome of the US presidential election.

"No administration has helped Israel more than I have. Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu) should keep this in mind. I don't know if he's trying to influence the American elections, I don't know, but I'm not counting on that ," said President Biden.

In a rare appearance in the White House press room, President Biden was asked about comments by Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, who told CNN this week that he was concerned because Mr. Netanyahu showed little interest in reaching of a peace agreement, partly because of politics in the United States.

President Biden has long sought to reach a cease-fire agreement. He and his aides have said several times in recent months that such a deal was close.

But the deal in question has never materialized, and on several occasions Mr. Netanyahu has publicly expressed resistance to the possibility, while American and Israeli officials continue to hold private talks on reaching a truce.

Meanwhile, Israel has made advances on two fronts, launching a ground incursion against Hezbollah in Lebanon that killed eight Israeli soldiers and launching attacks in Gaza that have killed dozens of people, including children.

Israel has also vowed to retaliate for the Iranian missile attack as fears of a regional conflict mount.

President Biden said a decision had not yet been made on how to respond to Iran, despite rumors of an Israeli attack on Iranian oil reserves.

"If I were in their place, I would think about other alternatives, instead of oil reserves" .

President Biden also dismissed rumors that he was seeking a meeting with Mr. Netanyahu to discuss the response to Iran.

"When they make a decision on how they will respond, then we will talk ," said President Biden.

However, relations between the two leaders have left much to be desired. President Biden publicly announced a ban on the delivery of heavy bombs to Israel and has increasingly expressed concern over the possibility of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

"I don't believe there will be a widespread conflict," President Biden said Thursday evening. "I think we can avoid it. But there is still a lot to do."

At the behest of President Biden, the US military has increased its presence in the region to protect Israel from attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and the Houthi rebels. In April and earlier this week, the United States played a leading role in shooting down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel./VOA