Netanyahu-Blinken meeting/L.A.M
The leader of the Democratic majority in the US Senate, Jewish Senator Chuck Schumer, said in a speech he delivered in the Senate today that "Prime Minister Netanyahu's vision is stuck in the past and no longer suits Israel's needs."
Shumer pointed out that because of this Israel must go to elections.
The leader of the democratic majority in the Senate said that he has known Netanyahu for many years and believes that the prime minister "lost his way when he allowed considerations of political survival to prevail over the interests of Israel."
According to him, "Netanyahu put himself in a coalition with extreme right-wing people like ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir, and as a result he was willing to put up with harming civilians in Gaza, which causes an unprecedented deterioration in the world's support for Israel. Israel will not be able to survive if it is ostracized in the world."
Schumer accused Netanyahu of weakening the political and moral fabric of Israel through his attempts to damage the judicial system and showed zero willingness to work towards achieving peace, even before the war in Gaza. Schumer added that if Netanyahu removes Ben Gabir and Smotrich from the coalition, it will be a significant step in the right direction." But unfortunately there is no reason to believe that Netanyahu will do so," he added.
Chuck Schumer in his State of the Nation address, March 8, 2024/Reuters
This is an unprecedented and harsh criticism from someone who is considered one of the biggest supporters of Israel in the US and who for years was considered close to Netanyahu.
Shumer claimed that the four main obstacles to peace at this time are: Hamas and its supporters from among the Palestinians, the extreme right-wing members of the Israeli government and the Israeli public, Chairman Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"If we do not overcome these obstacles, Israel and the West Bank and Gaza will remain in a cycle of violence that we have been experiencing for 75 years," said Schumer.
He noted that five months after the start of the war in Gaza, Israel must carry out a situation assessment.
"I believe that new elections are the only way to enable a healthy decision-making process regarding Israel's future at a time when so many Israelis feel that they have lost faith in the direction the government is leading," Schumer said.
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Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer gives a thumbs-up after approving a US debt ceiling increase, June 2, 2023/Reuters
The leader of the Democratic majority in the Senate added: "I believe that the majority of the Israeli public will recognize the need for change and I believe that new elections immediately after the war begins to end will give Israelis an opportunity to express their opinion regarding the vision for the day after the war."
Schumer pointed out that the US cannot dictate the results of the elections, nor should it try to do so. "The Israeli public has to decide and I believe that the Israeli public understands that Israel cannot succeed if it is ostracized in the world," said Schumer.
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Chuck Schumer
United States
Benjamin Netanyahu