Chuck Schumer demands new election in Israel and blasts Benjamin Netanyahu

WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for new elections in Isreal claiming the current government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "stuck in the past," reported CNN.

Schumer, the first Jewish Senate majority leader, delivered the surprising remarks while addressing the ongoing Israel-Hamas War on the Senate floor on Thursday, March 14.

"As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7. The world has changed, radically, since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past," he said.

"Five months into this conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask: must we change course?" Schumer continued, adding, "At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel, at a time when so many Israelis have lost their confidence in the vision and direction of their government."

The war that started on October 7 has caused an extreme humanitarian crisis among Palestinian civilians, whose death toll has crossed 30,000. Palestinians in Gaza have been pushed into a famine due to shortages of food, water, and medicine supplies.

Chuck Schumer expresses anguish on innocent Palestinians' death

Condemning Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, Schumer emphasized he was working to support the Biden administration to negotiate and free the remaining hostages.

However, he highlighted the Israel war campaign on Palestinians that has killed thousands so far. Stating his "heart also breaks at the loss of so many civilian lives in Gaza," the Senator added, "I am anguished that the Israeli war campaign has killed so many innocent Palestinians."

"I know that my fellow Jewish Americans feel this same anguish when they see the images of dead and starving children and destroyed homes," he continued.

Further into the speech, the Senator expressed his belief that most Israelis would seek change once the war ended, and a new election would allow them to "express their vision for the post-war future."

The current Israeli cabinet, led by Netanyahu, was formed in December 2022 with a coalition of seven parties.

Schumer's remarks come at a time when Israel faces mounting pressure to stop its bloodshed in Gaza. In addition, the relationship between President Joe Biden and PM Netanyahu is facing a rift as the former accused Israeli leader is "hurting Israel" by not defending the Palestinian people. Moreover, Biden is also pressured to opt for a harder line against the longtime ally.

Netanyahu's Likud party condemned remarks on a new election in a statement that said Schumer is "expected to respect Israel's elected government and not undermine it."

"Israel is not a banana republic, but an independent and proud democracy that elected Prime Minister Netanyahu," it continued. The statement further claimed the Israeli public supports a total victory over Hamas" and "opposes the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza."

Internet reacts

Netizens lashed out at Schumer for proposing a new election in Israel, citing he had no right to interfere in a foreign nation's internal matters.

One user wrote, "Sounds a lot like Election tampering and influencing of another Country to me."

"That's called election interference..I thought the US condemned that. Oh Yeah just for our elections.." another user remarked.

One user added, "That is up to Israelis, and not you," and another response read, "Not your place Chuck!!"

"This is one of the dumbest things ever said on the Senate floor. And that’s a pretty high standard. Calling for a new government in an allied nation during a war is inexcusably stupid," a user said.

Someone else stated, "The US cannot just call for a “new election” in a foreign country and expect them to comply. Anymore."

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