For decades, support for Israel and its leaders was unquestioned in Congress. U.S. politicians never criticized the Jewish state, certainly not in public — and certainly never called for a change in government.
But Thursday was an extraordinary moment, one that underscores how the war in Gaza and the controversy over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have permanently altered the Democratic Party’s relationship with one of America’s closest allies.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, went to the Senate floor and called for new elections to replace Netanyahu. Schumer also suggested that restrictions on U.S. aid may be necessary in order to pressure the Israeli government to change direction.
Minutes later, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell slammed Schumer’s remarks as “grotesque” and “unprecedented.” Other Republicans followed suit. Israeli officials piled on as well. Amir Ohana, the speaker of the Knesset, said Schumer’s “words contravene the reciprocal respect that should define our relationship.”
Michael Herzog, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, said Schumer’s remarks were “counterproductive to our common goals.” Herzog was at the House Republican retreat Thursday, where he did a question-and-answer session behind closed doors with GOP lawmakers. Herzog also spoke to Senate Republicans the day before.
“The question of whether there’s a new election ought to…
Read more@V0terVultureRepublican2mos2MO
I don’t ever again want to hear a Democrat lecture about foreign interference in an American election. With his speech today, Chuck Schumer forfeited any claim the US can make about foreign nations staying out of our elections.
@MellowC1vilRightsDemocrat2mos2MO
You seem eager to declare open season on our elections
@GoofyMacawGreen2mos2MO
I’m not even sure it’s election interference. It’s just one guy giving his advice as to what Israelis should do. They can take his advice or ignore it.
We were also fiddling around in Ukraine's government before that one collapsed in a coup. That didn't turn out too well either.
@DearRabbitDemocrat2mos2MO
Respectfully, I think this is an odd history of the US-Israel relationship.
— Reagan & HW Bush put really tough pressure on Israel to advance US geopolitical goals
— Netanyahu worked hand-in-glove with congressional Republicans to spike the JCPOA.
@R3d1strictingQuokkaGreen2mos2MO
Agreed. Netanyahu has, for years, pretty clearly *wanted* to make support for Israel into a more polarized issue in the United States.
This comes with downside risks that have been widely predicted by lots of people for decades. But he has his reasons and he's been mostly winning.
@DearRabbitDemocrat2mos2MO
If you know Schumer at all you know the stance he took this week does not come lightly.
He's been deeply committed to pro-Israel politics his whole career, it's a matter of conviction to him. That Netanyahu is making it untenable is something Israelis should think hard about.
@SquirrelRayRepublican2mos2MO
Its an election year and Biden is behind in the polls is what Schumer's level of commitment is.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
What are your thoughts on tying humanitarian aid to political conditions in foreign policy?
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
In what ways do you think a country's internal issues should impact its international relationships?
@9KWX5GFIndependent2mos2MO
I feel like different choices being made in a country's internal gov. could cause more issues with other treaties but you would need to be more professional in those situations.
@NominationWhitingDemocrat2mos2MO
I think Israel picking a side in US politics that past decade or so has damaged Israel as a bi partisan issue.
@ISIDEWITH2mos2MO
Would you support or oppose your elected officials publicly criticizing a close ally's government, and why?
@9CJ6CB62mos2MO
Support, I need to hear their points, and I think that no ally is ever unquestioned, and that we’ve made grave errors if we’re unable to see past violence our allies commit.
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