Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, called for new elections in Israel and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the ongoing war with Hamas, as part of an effort to achieve a two-state solution in the region.
In a speech on the escalating situation in the region, Schumer criticized Netanyahu, stating that he has “lost his way.” Schumer highlighted the political and legal challenges Netanyahu has faced and acknowledged that his “highest priority is the security of Israel.”
“However, I also believe Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by prioritizing his political survival over the best interests of Israel,” Schumer said, arguing that Netanyahu is currently in a coalition with “far-right extremists” and has been “too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is causing support for Israel worldwide to reach historic lows.”
“As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7,” Schumer added, referring to Hamas’s attack. “The world has changed — radically — since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.”
Before the speech, Schumer – the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history — had largely kept his powder dry on the topic as he tried to balance his personal feelings on Israel and the rising concern among Senate Democrats and progressives who have become vocal critics of Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict.
That sentiment became more outspoken earlier in the week as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and seven Senate Democrats penned a letter calling to President Biden, urging him to stop providing weapons to Israel for the war until Israel removes restrictions on U.S.-backed humanitarian aid going into Gaza.
“We urge you to make it clear to the Netanyahu government that failure to immediately and dramatically expand humanitarian access and facilitate safe aid deliveries throughout Gaza will lead to serious consequences, as specified under existing U.S. law,” the group wrote.
Sanders and others have also called for future aid to Israel to be contingent on whether the country is violating human rights and international agreements.
Progressives have also been vocal in calling for a lasting cease-fire, which Schumer on Thursday argued would only give Hamas more time to plan and launch attacks. However, he did support Biden’s push for a temporary one as he continued to hold out hope for a two-state solution.
The New York Democrat cited four main obstacles to that goal: Hamas and Palestinians who “support and tolerate” their efforts, radical right-wing Israelis, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Netanyahu.
On the Israeli side, Schumer recommended that the country contemplate its options for the future through a new election.
“At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel, at a time when so many Israelis have lost their confidence in the vision and direction of their government,” he said. “[H]olding a new election once the war starts to wind down would give Israelis an opportunity to express their vision for the post-war future.”
This is not the first important speech Schumer has given about Israel and its future. He gave one in November to denounce the increase of anti-semitism and urged Democrats to denounce it.
Senate Democrats have shown that they are split concerned about the possibility of selling weapons to Israel if Netanyahu proceeds with an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah, a southern Gaza city. Biden has called for the invasion to not happen, calling it a “red line” for the U.S.
Biden informed Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) after last week’s State of the Union address that he told Netanyahu that the two would need to “have a come-to-Jesus meeting” about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Netanyahu responded by stating that the country would not be “getting off the gas.”
The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping around 250 others.
Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and fighters in its count, has reported that over 31,000 Palestinians have died since the war started on Oct. 7. The United Nations also says about a quarter of Gaza’s population is now starving.
–Updated at 10:53 a.m.
