Israel Rebukes 'Unhelpful' Comments After Chuck Schumer Attacks Netanyahu

Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog said it is "unhelpful" for an ally of the Middle Eastern country to comment on its "domestic political scene" after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, called for new election in Israel and said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was an "obstacle to peace."

The Context

On October 7, 2023, Hamas led the deadliest Palestinian militant attack on Israel in history. Israel subsequently launched its heaviest-ever airstrikes on Gaza. Israeli officials have said that 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 250 people were taken hostage in Hamas' attack, according to the Associated Press, while more than 31,100 Palestinians have been killed, officials from the health ministry in Gaza said.

While many U.S. lawmakers and the White House have remained loyal to Israel, a longtime ally, amid the conflict in the Middle East, there has been growing concern for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

President Joe Biden has called for a second temporary ceasefire in the region in order to get the remaining hostages out and give additional humanitarian aid to Gazans. Democratic progressives in Congress, meanwhile, have called for a lasting ceasefire and accused Israel of carrying out a genocide of Palestinians—a claim Israel has vehemently denied.

Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud party, said on CBS' Face the Nation in late February that there will be no peace until Hamas is destroyed.

"I've set three war goals. The first is to release the hostages. The second is to destroy Hamas. And the third is to ensure that Gaza does not pose a threat to Israel in the future," Netanyahu told host Margaret Brennan. "They're achieved, basically by our very effective and often heroic military operation. And also by tough negotiations, we're combining the two and I hope it yields a result, but understand that unless we have total victory, we can't have peace. We can't leave Hamas in place."

What We Know

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., said on the Senate floor Thursday, "The fourth major obstacle to peace is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."

"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 continued: "Five months into this conflict, it is clear that Israelis need to take stock of the situation and ask, must we change course. 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."

Following Schumer's remarks, Herzog posted on X, formerly Twitter, "Israel is a sovereign democracy. It is unhelpful, all the more so as Israel is at war against the genocidal terror organization Hamas, to comment on the domestic political scene of a democratic ally. It is counterproductive to our common goals."

Newsweek reached out to Netanyahu's office via online form and Schumer's office via email for comment.

The Views

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, rejected Schumer's calls for a new election in Israel.

"The Jewish state of Israel deserves an ally that acts like one," McConnell said on the Senate floor on Thursday. "It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy to call for the removal of a democratically elected leader of Israel."

Meanwhile, J Street, a nonprofit aimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict peacefully and diplomatically, commended Schumer's speech.

J Street's Director of Government Affairs Hannah Morris said in a press release on Thursday: "It signals a historic shift from those in the Democratic party who care deeply about Israel's future."

"He showed clear recognition that US policy needs to change, that we must seek to shape better Israeli and Palestinian policy by more forcefully using our leverage. That we must do more to press the Netanyahu government to live up to our shared values. That we must stand up to extremists and those seeking to further only their own political survival at the expense of their own people's future," Morris said.

"This was a forceful call for President Biden to press forward with a regional peace agreement resulting in a viable Palestinian state."

Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, told Newsweek via email on Thursday: "We agree with Senator Schumer and believe that Israel needs new leadership that hasn't failed to provide security, protect democracy and promote a sustainable long-term future of peace with its neighbors."

What's Next?

White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby made it clear that the Biden administration is continuing its work on a temporary ceasefire.

Kirby told reporters on Thursday following Schumer's comments: "We know the leader Schumer feels strongly about this...We're gonna stay focused on making sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself while doing everything they can to avoid civilian casualties."

"And of course, we're still focused laser-focused on trying to get a temporary ceasefire in place so that we can get the hostages out and get more aid in and that's where our head is right now."

Newsweek reached out to the National Security Council who referred to Kirby's remarks during his press briefing.

Update 3/14/24, 12:34 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 3/14/24, 1:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 3/14/24, 4:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 3/14/24, 5:48 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with comment from President of J Street Jeremy Ben-Ami.