Schumer declines Netanyahu offer to speak with Senate Democrats

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York on Wednesday rejected a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with Senate Democrats.

Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Senate Republicans in a closed-door virtual meeting Wednesday. But a spokesman for Mr. Schumer said there would be no such talks with Democrats and that discussions with Israeli leaders should be bipartisan.

“Senator Schumer has made clear that he does not believe these discussions should be partisan. That is not beneficial to Israel,” the spokesperson said.

Schumer reiterated his position on the meeting with Netanyahu at a press conference Wednesday.

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“As I said, making these issues partisan hurts the Israeli cause,” a top Democrat told reporters.

Schumer’s rejection of Netanyahu’s request came days after he accused Netanyahu of obstructing peace between Israel and Hamas in a speech on the Senate floor. As the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip drags on and civilian casualties increase, Democrats are increasingly criticizing the Israeli government.

Schumer criticizes ‘disgusting’ speech calling on Israel to remove Netanyahu: ‘highly inappropriate’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) poses for a photo with New York State Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at the Capitol in Washington on February 15, 2017. Schumer has called for new elections in Israel. Schumer said he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way” amid Israeli airstrikes in Gaza and the growing humanitarian crisis there.Schumer is the first Jewish majority leader in the Senate and the highest-ranking Jewish official in the United States. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Seneta)

In his remarks, Schumer implored Israel to hold new elections and warned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would become a “pariah” if he remained in power. He claimed that Prime Minister Netanyahu had “lost his way by putting his own political survival above Israel’s best interests.”

Republicans slammed his speech as “unprecedented” and “ridiculous.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) accused Schumer of “interfering with the democracy of our sovereign allies.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu responded to Schumer on Sunday’s show. “Fox & Friends Weekend”.

Schumer’s anti-Netanyahu speech strengthens bivi in ​​Israel’s war to oust Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday and said Schumer’s comments were “totally inappropriate” and that Israel is not a “banana republic.” (Fox News)

“I think Mr. Schumer’s comments are completely inappropriate. I don’t think we are a banana republic. It’s up to the people of Israel to decide when to hold elections and who to elect, and it’s not something that can be imposed on us.” said. .

“Imagine, after 9/11, when you’re fighting al-Qaeda and winning…some Israelis say, ‘Oh, the right thing to do is not have new elections in America. ‘Let President Bush resign.’ That’s inappropriate. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s wrong,” he added.

Amid the controversy over Schumer’s comments, House Republicans are considering extending an invitation to Prime Minister Netanyahu to address Congress.

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House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said Wednesday morning that he had a “long conversation” with Netanyahu, but did not confirm plans to invite him to speak.

“We didn’t talk about those logistics, but it’s one of the things we have in mind and we may try to make arrangements for that,” Johnson told reporters. “I think it’s very important for us to show solidarity and support for Israel at this time, when it is going through such a difficult struggle. And we certainly support that position. We will do everything in every way possible. We try to move that forward.”