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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, has urged Israel to consider electing a new prime minister as a step towards achieving a lasting peace with the Palestinians through a two-state solution. During a significant address on the Senate floor, Schumer identified Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a primary barrier to peace. He highlighted that Netanyahu’s focus on political survival has overshadowed the broader interests of Israel.
Schumer pointed out that Netanyahu, along with Hamas, certain Palestinians, right-wing Israelis, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, are hindering the path to peace. He stressed that Netanyahu’s alliances with far-right figures and his tolerance for the civilian casualties in Gaza have diminished global support for Israel.
Schumer, who is Jewish, believes that elections are crucial for Israel to engage in an open and healthy debate about its future. He is convinced that a majority of Israelis are also in favor of change within their government. Schumer warned that Israel’s international standing could not withstand the current trajectory and emphasized the importance of Israel not becoming isolated on the global stage.
In response to Schumer’s speech, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, defended Israel’s sovereignty and criticized the call for new elections. McConnell argued that Israel deserves the respect due to a sovereign democratic nation and suggested that critiques from foreign observers are not constructive, especially during Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Herzog, echoed McConnell’s sentiments, highlighting the inappropriateness of commenting on the political landscape of a democratic ally amidst conflict. Herzog stressed that such remarks do not contribute positively to shared objectives.
Netanyahu has previously dismissed the idea of a two-state solution, prioritizing Israeli security control over the territories west of the Jordan River, which contradicts the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority continues to claim Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, with Jerusalem as its capital, as essential for peace.