The USA is Israel’s most important ally. But criticism is also increasingly coming from there. Top Democrat Schumer calls for new elections in Israel. The Netanyahu government is pursuing its own interests rather than those of the country.
The USA is criticizing Israel in an increasingly harsh tone because of the humanitarian emergency and the high number of civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. Now Chuck Schumer, Democratic majority leader in the US Senate and an avowed supporter of Israel, is turning against the government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a speech in the US Senate, Schumer called for a new election in Israel. In his view, this is “the only way to enable a healthy and open decision-making process about Israel’s future at a time when so many Israelis have lost trust in the vision and direction of their government,” said Schumer.
Netanyahu “lost his way by putting his political survival above Israel’s best interests.” The Israeli prime minister’s coalition with far-right extremists has resulted in Netanyahu being “too willing” to “tolerate the civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip.” These actions are causing global support for Israel to fall to an all-time low. But the country cannot survive if it becomes a “pariah” – an outcast – warned Schumer.
Criticism of resistance against Two-state solution
Given what Schumer believes is the Israeli population’s crumbling support for its own government, it is important “that Israelis have a choice.” Schumer criticized Netanyahu’s political vision and his alliance as stuck in the past: “The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits Israel’s needs after October 7th. The world has changed radically since then.” As a democracy, Israel must be able to choose its own leadership.
Schumer currently believes that a solution for long-term peace in the Middle East is unlikely. In his view, this is due not only to the terrorist militia Hamas and the attitude of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but also to Netanyahu’s refusal to allow a two-state solution.
“Israel is not one Banana Republic”
The reaction from Israel followed promptly: Netanyahu’s Likud party vehemently rejected Schumer’s call for a new election in a statement. “Israel is not a banana republic, but an independent and proud democracy,” it said. Netanyahu has been elected as head of government and his “decisive policies” are supported by a large majority of the Israeli population. The same applies to the Israeli course against a two-state solution.
However, as the dpa news agency reported, approval for Netanyahu and his government is falling. In the event of a new election, the head of government would have to expect a loss of votes. Israel’s opposition leader Jair Lapid also accused Netanyahu of increasingly losing international support with his policies. Schumer’s speech made this clear.
Increasingly sharper tones from US President Biden
The US’s criticism of Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip has become even more severe in recent weeks – especially in view of the threat of an offensive by the Israeli army in Rafah. More than 1.5 million people are said to have sought refuge in the city in the Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt.
Above all, US President Joe Biden has repeatedly appealed to Israel to provide more protection for the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu is also the focus of Biden’s criticism. Most recently, Biden emphasized in an interview last weekend: “He is doing more harm to Israel than he is helping Israel.” The Israeli head of government has the right to defend Israel and to continue fighting the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. But he must “pay greater attention to innocent lives.”
Netanyahu countered with the same argument that his Likud party used against Schumer: his own policies are supported by a large part of the Israeli population. Netanyahu emphasized that he was not pursuing “private politics” against the wishes of this broad majority.
The war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel’s history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations on October 7th in Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip. They murdered more than 1,200 people and abducted 250 others to the coastal area. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.