Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader from New York, delivered a powerful speech on the Senate floor criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel as a significant barrier to peace in the Middle East. Schumer called for new leadership in Israel, expressing concerns about Netanyahu’s handling of the ongoing war.
Many Democratic lawmakers have voiced their disapproval of Netanyahu’s leadership and his right-wing coalition. Even President Biden has criticized the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza. Schumer’s speech, however, marked the most severe criticism from a senior American official, essentially urging Israelis to seek new leadership.
“I believe that his top priority is Israel’s security,” said Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States. “However, I also believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by prioritizing his political survival over Israel’s best interests.”
Schumer added, “He has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is damaging Israel’s global support. Israel cannot survive if it becomes isolated.”
The speech reflects the growing dissatisfaction among Democrats, particularly progressives, with Israel’s actions and their impact on Palestinian civilians. This has created a strategic and political challenge for President Biden, with Republicans seeking to capitalize on the situation for electoral gain.
In response to Schumer, Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, criticized the call for the removal of the democratically elected leader of Israel as “grotesque and hypocritical.” He accused the Democratic Party of having an “anti-Israel problem.”
Mr. Schumer’s remarks came a day after Senate Republicans invited Mr. Netanyahu to speak as their special guest at a party retreat in Washington. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Republican, asked Mr. Netanyahu to address Republicans virtually, but he could not appear because of a last-minute scheduling conflict. Ambassador Michael Herzog, Israel’s envoy to the United States, spoke in his place and also addressed the House G.O.P. gathering on Thursday.
In his speech at the Capitol, Mr. Schumer, who represents a state with more than 20 percent of the country’s Jewish population, was careful to assert that he was not trying to dictate any electoral outcome in Israel….
2024-03-14 12:41:50
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