Democrats fear Netanyahu is pushing his Middle East war to influence the US election

Democrats fear Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is escalating tensions in the Middle East in order to influence the outcome of the U.S. election.

This past week, Israel has increased its attack on Lebanon, targeting the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, and vowed to make Iran “pay” for its recent missile attack.

Though the United States supports Israel and provides military aid, the recent escalation appears to be a defiant move against Democratic President Joe Biden who has long desired a ceasefire deal.

On Friday, the president responded to concerns about Netanyahu interfering with the election, telling reports, “I don’t know. But I’m not counting on that.”

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, of Connecticuttold CNN he fears Netanyahu is being strategic in launching attacks right before the November election.

“I certainly worry that Prime Minister Netanyahu is watching the American election as he makes decisions about his military campaigns in the north end in Gaza,” Murphy said.

“I hope this is not true, but it is certainly a possibility that the Israeli government is not going to sign any diplomatic agreement prior to the American election, as a means potentially to try to influence the result.”

For months, the U.S. has gone back and forth with Israel trying to broker a deal to stop the war in Gaza, which according to the Palestinian authorities has left more than 40,000 dead following the deadly October 7 Hamas attacks that killed around 1,200.

But last week, one of the most public moments of defiance came when the Israeli government disavowed the ceasefire agreement that Biden and French President Emmanual Macron teased. Despite calling for peace, Israel began launching airstrikes in Lebanon