Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed strong disapproval of Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) recent speech on the Senate floor. In his speech, Schumer advocated for Israel to conduct elections after the ongoing conflict in Gaza comes to an end.
Netanyahu criticized Schumer’s remarks during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, which was broadcast on Sunday. He labeled Schumer’s suggestions as entirely inappropriate, emphasizing that it is not acceptable to interfere with the leadership of a fellow democratic nation.
In a tweet, Netanyahu voiced his reluctance to hold early elections in Israel following the conflict in Gaza. He argued that the decision should be left to the Israeli people, dismissing the idea of early elections as absurd.
Schumer, who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. and has been a long-standing supporter of Israel, described Netanyahu as a barrier to peace. He argued that new elections would provide a platform for open and healthy decision-making regarding Israel’s future, especially at a time when the government’s direction and vision are being questioned by many Israelis.
Netanyahu reiterated his stance to Dana Bash, the host, stating that it’s inappropriate for someone from another democratic country to attempt to influence the leadership in Israel. He firmly stated that decisions regarding leadership should be made by the Israeli public alone, rejecting the notion of Israel being a banana republic.
Furthermore, Netanyahu claimed that a significant portion of Israelis and the majority of the Knesset are against the idea of being forced into accepting a Palestinian state.
Bash brought up a report from the Director of National Intelligence during the interview, which highlighted a growing distrust in Netanyahu’s leadership among the public. She also mentioned polls indicating a preference among Israeli citizens for early elections.
Despite the polls showing 64 percent of Israelis in favor of early elections, as reported by Channel 12, Netanyahu remained non-committal on the matter. He compared the timing of discussing elections to the aftermath of 9/11 in America, labeling it as ridiculous.
The conversation shifted towards humanitarian aid in Gaza. Bash questioned Netanyahu’s commitment to increasing aid, especially with reports of near-famine conditions in Gaza. Despite international calls for more aid, Netanyahu assured that his policy aims to prevent famine by allowing necessary humanitarian support.
However, Bash noted that the current level of humanitarian aid entering Gaza is minimal. Cindy McCain, a supporter of Israel and widow of Senator John McCain, emphasized the need for a significant increase in aid to avert famine.
Recent weeks have seen accusations against Israeli troops for firing at Palestinians seeking food in Gaza. In one incident reported by CNN, a man named Ibrahim Al-Najar described a tragic event where many were killed or injured while waiting for food, attributing the attack to Israeli shelling.
Netanyahu also discussed his intention to invade Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, despite President Biden’s warnings against such an action. He claimed widespread Israeli support for this move, though he did not provide evidence to support this claim.
The Biden administration has advocated for an immediate temporary ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli representatives are heading to Qatar to negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas, which includes discussions on releasing hostages in exchange for a pause in fighting.
Lastly, the Palestinian death toll since October 7 has surpassed 30,000, with women and children making up two-thirds of the casualties. The actual number of deaths may be higher, as many are missing and bodies remain under rubble from airstrikes.