United States Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Israel to conduct fresh elections on Thursday, expressing his belief that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has veered off course and is hindering peace efforts in the region amidst a mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza, news agency Associated Press (AP) reported. Schumer, the Senate's first Jewish majority leader and the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., delivered a scathing critique of Netanyahu during a 40-minute address on the Senate floor on Thursday morning.
He accused the prime minister of aligning himself with a coalition of far-right extremists and asserted that Netanyahu's stance has led to a concerning level of civilian casualties in Gaza, thereby diminishing global support for Israel to unprecedented levels.
“Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Schumer was quoted as saying by AP in its report.
As an increasing number of Democrats have expressed criticism towards Israel and President Joe Biden has intensified public pressure on Netanyahu’s government, highlighting the need for greater attention to the civilian casualties in Gaza amid the Israeli bombardment, a high-level warning has been issued. This month, the U.S. initiated airdrops of much-needed humanitarian aid and announced plans to establish a temporary pier to facilitate the delivery of additional assistance to Gaza by sea.
Despite this, Schumer, known for his staunch support of the Israeli government, has embarked on a different stance. Following the brutal attack by Hamas on October 7, he visited Israel and delivered a lengthy speech on the Senate floor in December condemning "brazen and widespread antisemitism the likes of which we haven’t seen in generations in this country, if ever."
But he stated on the Senate floor that the ”Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.”
Schumer asserts that Netanyahu, a longstanding opponent of Palestinian statehood, is among the key barriers to the United States' advocated two-state solution. Schumer stated, "Netanyahu has veered off course by prioritising his political survival over the welfare of Israel."