AFPI Condemns Senator Chuck Schumer’s Criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
On Thursday, in comments on the Senate floor, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of being an obstacle to peace and calling for new elections.
This statement followed an unprecedented finding in the U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2024 annual worldwide threat report, released on Monday, that questioned the leadership of Netanyahu and predicted that large protests in Israel demanding his resignation could drive the Israeli leader from power.
War Cabinet minister Benny Gantz, a political opponent of Netanyahu, rejected Schumer’s comments, saying he made a mistake calling for new elections and that “Israel is a strong democracy, and only its citizens will determine its leadership and future. Any external intervention in the matter is incorrect and unacceptable.”
The Netanyahu government rejected the new U.S. intelligence report as part of a Biden administration attempt to overthrow the Netanyahu government.
Senate Ranking Member Mitch McConnell condemned Schumer’s comments, saying, “Israel is not a colony of America whose leaders serve at the pleasure of the party in power in Washington. Only Israel’s citizens should have a say in who runs their government.”
“At this critical time in Israel’s history, U.S. officials and agencies should not be publicly attacking the Israeli government or meddling in Israeli politics. We stand firmly with the Government of Israel in its effort to secure its people in the aftermath of the horrific Hamas terrorist attack of October 7. We call on President Biden, Senator Schumer, and all U.S. government agencies to cease this senseless criticism of one of America’s closest and most important allies who are engaged in a war against terrorism,” said Lt. Gen (Ret.) Keith Kellogg, former National Security Advisor to President Trump and Vice President Pence and co-chair, AFPI Center for American Security and Fred Fleitz, former National Security Council Chief of Staff and vice-chair, AFPI Center for American Security.