On Sunday, Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, commended Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for his recent call for a new election in Israel, describing it as a gesture of affection towards the country. She expressed her admiration for Schumer’s speech to CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” right after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had criticized Schumer’s comments. Pelosi highlighted Schumer’s deep love for Israel and urged that his comments, which came amidst a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, be taken seriously to protect Israel’s reputation.
Netanyahu, in his conversation with CNN, dismissed Schumer’s remarks as entirely inappropriate. Despite Netanyahu’s criticism, Pelosi stood firm in her support for Schumer, emphasizing the importance of his message given the dire situation in Gaza. She pointed out Netanyahu’s possible lack of awareness or misinformation regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, especially after his claim that Israel was allowing sufficient aid into the region. This claim comes at a time when aid organizations are warning of an impending famine in Gaza, marking a very sad situation.
Pelosi also touched upon the principle that when the United States provides assistance to a country, it insists on non-interference with its humanitarian aid efforts. She criticized Netanyahu for his attack on Schumer’s suggestion for new elections in Israel, noting Netanyahu’s own history of involvement in US politics. Specifically, she recalled Netanyahu’s attempts to influence American elections, including his criticism of then-President Barack Obama and the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) in front of the US Congress.
In his 2015 address to Congress, Netanyahu portrayed Iran as a significant terrorist threat, likening it to ISIS and North Korea. He argued that the deal being negotiated at the time, which aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, would instead ensure Iran obtained them. This stance led to President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the JCPOA in 2018.
Additionally, Democratic Representative Adam Schiff of California shared his views on Schumer’s comments during his appearance on “State of the Union” on Sunday. Schiff agreed with Schumer on the need to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza but was more cautious about specifying the timing for elections, indicating a nuanced stance on the issue.