President Biden commended Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday for his call urging Israel to hold a “new election” soon. Despite criticism from Jewish groups and Israeli leaders, Biden praised Schumer’s remarks, describing them as a “good speech” during a meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office.
Schumer, in a lengthy speech lasting about 40 minutes, asserted on the Senate floor that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and certain “radical” members of his security cabinet were hindering peace efforts. He advocated for a new election in Israel once the conflict with Hamas began to de-escalate.
Chuck Schumer (Credits: The Times of Israel)
The response to Biden’s reluctance to call for a ceasefire in the ongoing Middle East conflict has triggered a significant backlash among Democrats, evident in recent primaries in Michigan and Minnesota, where many voters chose “uncommitted” options in protest.
Despite widespread support for Israel, polling data suggests a divided American public regarding Israel’s handling of the conflict with Hamas. A recent Wall Street Journal poll revealed varying opinions on the appropriateness of Israel’s response to Hamas attacks.
Schumer also warned that if Netanyahu does not step down and continues with policies deemed dangerous, the U.S. may need to play a more active role in influencing Israeli policy to align with American standards for assistance.
Chuck Schumer and Netanyahu (Credits: The Times of Israel)
However, Schumer’s comments faced criticism from Republicans and Israeli officials who accused him of inappropriate intervention in Israel’s internal affairs. Opposition leader Benny Gantz labeled Schumer’s speech a “mistake,” emphasizing Israel’s sovereignty in determining its leadership.
Echoing similar sentiments, Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog and former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett expressed disapproval of external political intervention in Israel’s domestic affairs. They stressed Israel’s status as a sovereign democracy and called for international support in their efforts against terrorism.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Mike Johnson also criticized Schumer’s remarks, with McConnell deeming them “unprecedented” and Johnson calling them “highly inappropriate” and “just plain wrong.”
