Oh no, Schumer told the truth
Schumer’s comments are his, not Biden administration’s: State Department
Congress is an independent branch of the US government and the Senate majority leader’s call for new elections in Israel is his comment and not that of the Biden administration, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller says.
When asked if there is no frustration in the administration with Netanyahu, Miller said: “There are a number of things we wanted to see Israel do differently.”
Earlier, Schumer, the highest ranking Jewish politician in the US, said Netanyahu has “lost his way” and he and his “extremist” allies must hold a vote after Israel’s conduct during the war on Gaza.
Senior Republican Senator McConnell defends Netanyahu; war on Gaza
Mitch McConnell, the US Senate’s Republican leader, quickly came to Benjamin Netanyahu’s defence after Senator Schumer’s scathing 45-minute speech.
“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.
“The Jewish state of Israel deserves an ally that acts like one. People of Israel, at home and in captivity, deserve America’s support, and Israel’s unity government and security cabinet deserve the deference befitting a sovereign, democratic country.”
‘No choice’: Schumer highlights American aid to Israel
Schumer’s fiery speech reflects growing frustration in Washington with Netanyahu, his management of the war, the failure to do more to protect Palestinian civilians and obstruction of aid deliveries in Gaza.
While Schumer didn’t mention the possibility of introducing legislation to tie the provision of US weapons to Israel easing the humanitarian crisis, the senator raised the possibility of Washington using its influence if Israel doesn’t change its policies.
“If Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current coalition remains in power after the war begins to wind down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance, then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course,” he said.
The US provides Israel with about $3.8bn in military aid annually.
This month’s welcome to Washington by Schumer and administration officials of Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz was widely seen as a snub to Netanyahu, who has yet to be invited to the Biden White House.
Even pro-Israel lobby groups see that Netanyahu is destroying Israel alongside Gaza.
Pro-Israel lobby group applauds Schumer’s comments
J Street, a self-described pro-Israel lobbying group in the US, has posted on X in support of US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, who earlier called for elections in Israel to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The group called Schumer’s speech “historic”, noting that it was “significant not just because of what was said, but because of who said it – the highest ranking Jewish elected official in US history and a stalwart supporter of Israel. It signals a historic shift from those in the Democratic party who care deeply about Israel’s future”.
“Schumer rightly stated that US leaders must use the tools at its disposal to be a good ally to Israel and a partner to Palestinians. The US cannot sacrifice long-term peace for the short-term gains of bad-faith players in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank” the group continued in a lengthy X thread.
“Netanyahu has made it his mission to reject the creation of a Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel. As SenSchumer made clear, this is the only plausible lasting solution to end the cycles of violence, including Hamas’ horrendous Oct. 7 attack”.
Chicago-based Muslim groups refuse to meet White House officials
A coalition of American Muslim and Palestinian groups based in Chicago sent a letter to the White House rejecting an offer to meet officials because of inaction over Israel’s war on Gaza.
“First, there is no point in more meetings … With a genocide that has flattened Gaza, forcibly displacing 85 percent of its residents, and claiming the lives of 31,000 people, 13,000 of whom are children, the White House has not only refused to call for a ceasefire, but also enabled this blatant campaign of ethnic cleansing to take place by providing financial and military means, as well as diplomatic support at the United Nations,” the letter said.
“There is no confusion as to our consistent demand for an immediate ceasefire to end the mass murder of civilians and stave off the worst humanitarian crisis in modern times. We believe another meeting would only act to whitewash months of White House inaction.”
EU’s Borrell says Gaza crisis a ‘man-made’ disaster
European foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters in Washington that world leaders need to put more pressure on Israel to open its crossings for humanitarian access to Gaza.
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza isn’t a natural disaster but a “man-made” one, he said.
Earlier this week, Borrell accused the Israeli government of using starvation as a “weapon of war”. Israel described his comments as “false” and “outrageous”.
