Biden squeezes Netanyahu on cease-fire talks

President Joe Biden was so staunchly supportive of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israel-Hamas war broke out that observers called Biden’s approach a bear hug.

That bear hug is turning into a vice-like grip.

The president and his aides are working to make sure Netanyahu is feeling the squeeze from all sides to quickly bring the war to an end. Biden is getting more combative himself, pushing rhetorically and behind the scenes to increase pressure from regional powers, the United Nations, aid groups, Israeli citizens and Netanyahu’s political allies and foes alike.