Biden: ‘I don’t know’ if Netanyahu trying to influence election

President Biden on Friday said he wasn’t aware of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was trying to influence the U.S. election, while noting no administration has been a stronger ally to Israel than his own.

In his first briefing room appearance of his presidency, Biden addressed Democratic concerns that the Israeli leader is ignoring Biden’s call to negotiate a Gaza peace deal and confronting Hezbollah and Iran in an effort to interfere with the White House race.

“No administration has helped Israel more than I have, none, none, none. And, I think Bibi should remember that,” Biden said.

He added, “And whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know. But I’m not counting on that.”

The president has publicly and privately been frustrated with Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza over the past year, which has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians. Monday will mark the anniversary of the Hamas attack against Israel that set off the war.

He was also pressed on if he wants to speak to Netanyahu and said he assumes that when Israel “makes an assessment on how they’re going to respond, we will have a discussion.” He added that his team and the prime minister’s team are in “constant contact” while they try to figure out their retaliation plan.

Biden a day earlier had caused waves in the markets when he said the U.S. and Israel were in discussions about the response to Iran’s missile attack earlier in the week, including the possibility they could strike Iranian oil fields.

On Friday, Biden suggested he would advise against such a move.

“The Israelis have not concluded what they’re going to do in terms of a strike,” Biden said. “That’s under discussion. If I were in their shoes I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields.”