Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a media interview this weekend that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) comments calling for a new election in Israel that could possibly replace him were “totally inappropriate.” The prime minister’s comments also came after President Joe Biden appeared to endorse Schumer’s message last week.
“I think what you said is totally inappropriate,” Netanyahu told CNN’s Dana Bash. “It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there.”
“That’s something that Israel, the Israeli public does on its own. We’re not a banana republic. I think the only government that we should be working on and to bring down now is the terrorist tyranny in Gaza, the Hamas tyranny that murdered over 1,000 Israelis, including some dozens of Americans,” said Netanyahu.
“As far as what Senator Schumer said the majority of Israelis support our government. 82% of Americans support Israel instead of Hamas,” said the prime minister.
Last week Schumer called Netanyahu’s government an obstacle toward peace as the conflict in the Middle East continued. Israel prepared for an attack on the last major stronghold held by the Hamas terrorist group, which killed 1,200 people in an attack last Oct. 7.
“The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7. Now I believe that holding a new election, once the war starts to wind down, would give Israelis an opportunity to express their vision for the post-war future,” Schumer said.
Biden appeared to support Schumer’s calls for new elections.
“He made a good speech,” Biden said. “I think he expressed serious concerns shared not only by him but by many Americans.”
Schumer also drew considerable criticism from members of Congress from both major political parties for his comments.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) said that the “only “obstacle to peace” is Hamas—the brutal terrorist organization bent on destroying Israel, who raped and murdered innocent people on October 7 and continues to hold over 100 hostages.”
The only “obstacle to peace” is Hamas—the brutal terrorist organization bent on destroying Israel, who raped and murdered innocent people on October 7 and continues to hold over 100 hostages.https://t.co/DRDk6juMdH
— Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) March 14, 2024
