Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York faced backlash online Thursday when he said Israel should change its leadership amid its war with Hamas.
In what Schumer called a major speech on the two-state solution, he said on the Senate floor that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is one of four obstacles to the solution.
The Senate Majority Leader said he believed that “Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by prioritizing his own political survival over Israel’s best interests.”
Schumer, along with Netanyahu, singled out “Palestinians who support and tolerate Hamas and their evil ways, radical right-wing Israelis in government and society, and Palestinians who support and tolerate their evil ways.” [and] Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas” is another obstacle.
Schumer is calling for Israel to hold new elections. Schumer said he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way” amid Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the growing humanitarian crisis there. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Seneta, File)
Schumer, who is Jewish, said new elections in Israel are “the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about Israel’s future.” He added that he believed the majority of Israelis also recognized the need for government change.
US ambassador to Israel slams Schumer’s ‘useless’ anti-Netanyahu speech: ‘Israel is a sovereign democracy’
Some see Schumer’s comments as a form of “election interference” that calls for Israel to hold new elections to replace Prime Minister Netanyahu.
“This is one of the most disgusting speeches ever given in the Senate. 1) Senators do not have the right to choose who foreign democracies elect. This is election interference. 2) ) Schumer doesn’t understand how Israel will come together to destroy Hamas, bigger than Bibi,” FOX News contributor Ari Fleischer summed up.
Former CBS News correspondent Mark Knoller asked, “Would you feel that way if Mr. Schumer’s relatives were still being held by Hamas?”
“For some reason (I suspect it will be a Cornel West line in many state votes in the fall) Democrats have decided that 100% of Jewish American voters and non-Jewish friends of Israel will just attack @ We concluded that they would stick to their guns no matter what, Prime Minister Netanyahu. That’s…unlikely,” conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt wrote.
Columnist and author David Marcus said: “This is wildly inappropriate. Why on earth would any country want to be an ally of the United States now? We treat America far worse than our enemies. “I’m doing it,” he shouted.
“It’s strange that Schumer isn’t calling for new elections to replace the leaders of China or Iran,” wrote National Review senior writer Dan McLaughlin.
“The fact that Mr. Schumer gives a generally pro-Israel speech, but mainly attacks Bibi (for domestic political reasons) and loses the Israeli ambassador… shows how disjointed the Democratic Party’s message on Israel is. “There is,” said Josh Kraushaar, a political analyst at Fox News Radio. .
FOX News contributor Mark Thiessen said, “Imagine a few months after 9/11 when foreign politicians demanded that the United States oust Bush.”
New York Post columnist John Podhoretz said, “I call for new elections in New York state. Chuck Schumer is a creature of the past. He is an obstacle to peace. Oh wait, that’s not the way we do it. Is that so? It’s a shame,” he joked.
House Republican leaders call Schumer’s Israel comments ‘inappropriate’ and demand apology at impromptu press conference
In this image from a video provided by Senate Television, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.Y.) speaks on the Senate floor at the Capitol on March 14, 2024 in Washington. (Senate TV, via AP)
In his rationale for calling an election to potentially replace Prime Minister Netanyahu, Schumer said: “He aligns with far-right extremists like Minister Smotrich and Minister Ben Gvir, and as a result condones civilian casualties. It’s too far advanced.” Gaza has pushed support for Israel to historic lows around the world. ”
Schumer stressed that Israel cannot overcome such a negative public image. “If Israel becomes a pariah, he cannot survive,” he said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Schumer’s office for comment.
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FOX News’ Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
