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 @ISIDEWITHNewselectionsIsraelJoe BidenGazaPresidentBenjamin NetanyahuChuck Schumergovernment•••1yr ago

U.S. Senate Leader Calls For Israeli Prime Minister To Resign

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Shumer called on Thursday for new elections in Israel, harshly criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an obstacle to peace.

Democrat Schumer, long a supporter of Israel and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official, told the Senate that Netanyahu's government "no longer fits the needs of Israel" five months into a war that began with attacks on Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7.

"As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders, and we should let the chips fall where they may. But the important thing is that Israelis are given a choice. There needs to be a fresh debate about the future of Israel after Oct. 7," Schumer said.

"In my opinion, that is best accomplished by holding an election," he said.

Schumer said it would be a "grave mistake" for Israel to reject a two-state solution and urged negotiators in the Israel-Gaza conflict to do everything possible to secure a ceasefire, free hostages and get aid into Gaza.

Schumer and other leading Democrats, including President Joe Biden, face intense criticism from within the party, over Washington's unconditional support for Israel, given the impact on Palestinian civilians of Israel's assault on Gaza.

The war erupted after fighters from Hamas killed 1,200 people in a lightning Oct. 7 attack on Israel and took 253 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 31,184 Palestinians and injured 72,889, according to authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

"It is grotesque... and hypocritical... for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of the democratically elected leader of Israel. This is unprecedented," McConnell said.

29 Replies

 @ZealfulOilLibertarianfrom Illinois  agreed…1yr1Y

This is a remarkable shift for Chuck Schumer, once one of Congress' most reliable Israel hawks. It puts senators like Fetterman, funnily enough, at the fringe of the current Democratic Party.

 @CheerfulTwoPartyGreenfrom Illinois  disagreed…1yr1Y

This is more just Schumer using Netanyahu as a foil to avoid making any substantive shift on his fundamentally unchanged Israel hawkishness

 @IntuitiveB1partisanSocialist from Ohio  agreed…1yr1Y

I never heard Schumer say that Netanyahu did anything wrong nor that Israel kills too many Palestinians

 @ZealfulOilLibertarianfrom Illinois  disagreed…1yr1Y

It's fine to be cynical about Schumer but he quite literally has never talked this way

 @PunditBillWorking Family from Pennsylvania  disagreed…1yr1Y

The only takeaway is that the Schumer is clearly freaked out by polls showing pro-Palestinian voters are leaving his party en masse.

 @WhitingHannahPeace and Freedom from California  commented…1yr1Y

First Schumer is not part of the administration. He’s part of the legislative branch. Second it simply means our help/aid/intelligence will be conditioned now as it always should have been. It is bold but only because so many are still fine with rubber stamping a genocide

 @D3fencePenelopeDemocrat from North Dakota  agreed…1yr1Y

I don't think Chuck Schumer is "anti-Jewish"

I also don't want to post what would end up sounding like an anti-semitic conspiracy meme but if you look it up there are an extraordinarily large number of Jewish people in senior roles of the Biden administration. It's surely the most Jewish team we've ever had.

 @WhitingHannahPeace and Freedom from California  agreed…1yr1Y

Jewish American politicos should’ve been more involved a while ago. The liberal parties in Israel can use some coaching

 @PorcupineIanLibertarian from New York  commented…1yr1Y

I thought the Biden administration did not get into nation building. This is a bold statement

 @GrasshopperGabriellaGreen from New York  disagreed…1yr1Y

They are providing the weapons, money, aid, security council vetoes, and media lies. They can do this at the very least

 @CleverPuddingRepublicanfrom Texas  commented…1yr1Y

Chuck Schumer is worthless and I hope he gets booed out of the building next time he shows up to his temple.

Also, is the Left for nation-building now?

Democrat

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 @SwingStateMackenzieConstitution from California  agreed…1yr1Y

Schumer is injecting his leftist ideology into this matter. He doesn’t like Netanyahu because he leans right. It’s about the people of Israel’s survival. Hamas must surrender unconditionally. The onus is on the terrorists who began this war. Schumer is despicable.

 @CleverPuddingRepublicanfrom Texas  agreed…1yr1Y

Schumer is trying to placate the very vocal part of the Democrat party that’s pro Palestinian. He’s selling out for the November elections.

 @CougarAvaPatriotfrom Guam  agreed…1yr1Y

“Highest ranking Jewish Official”

Is there a “ Highest Ranking Catholic Official” that tells the Pope what to do or a “Highest ranking Muslim Official” that tells Saudi and Iran what to do?

  @Patriot-#1776Constitution from Washington  commented…1yr1Y

Inappropriate and unconstitutional for the Senate Majority "Leader" to involve himself in foreign affairs like that.

  @9CJ6CB6 from Virginia  commented…1yr1Y

He’s allowed to make statements you know.

  @Patriot-#1776Constitution from Washington  commented…1yr1Y

He is allowed to make statements, they are just inappropriate statements that could lead to unconstitutional laws if he steers his evil party in that direction

  @9CJ6CB6 from Virginia  commented…1yr1Y

Hm, but unconstitutional things happen by the mere existence of a lot of congress, so st this point that’s not really my main concern.

  @Patriot-#1776Constitution from Washington  commented…1yr1Y

I'm just a Tenth Amendment Rights advocate, so I don't appreciate it when people threaten my liberty

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

To what extent do you believe international criticism is justified when a country's internal policies or military actions have global repercussions?

 @9KW3F9PWomen’s Equality from North Carolina  answered…1yr1Y

I think it gets too much hate, but I know it's not the best thing.

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

Should the opinion of a U.S. political figure on the leadership of an allied nation affect that nation's decision-making process?

 @9KW3S9WPeace and Freedomanswered…1yr1Y

Yes it should be because its a political figure and their voice matters.

 @R3gulationBrianDemocrat from Indiana  commented…1yr1Y

It’s a mistake. Netanyahu will just dig in deeper.

 @TunaEvaGreen from Kansas  commented…1yr1Y

Israelis feel like they are a proxy state of the US, much as some Americans feel the same. Reality is more complicated. Imagine having this lowlife trying to interfere in your elections.

 @R3gulationDunbirdVeteranfrom Florida  commented…1yr1Y

Nothing screams "we're losing voters in Michigan and Minnesota" than watching Schumer scramble.

 @ISIDEWITHasked…1yr1Y

How do you feel about the role of foreign leaders in influencing the political leadership of other sovereign nations?

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