Senator Chuck Schumer's sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week marked a significant turning point in the Democratic Party's dealings with Israel's right-wing government.
In a Senate address, Schumer expressed strong disapproval of Netanyahu's collaboration with right-wing extremists. He called for Israel to seek peace with the Palestinians and for early elections—something that the embattled Israeli premier continues to reject.
President Joe Biden—a close confidant and former Senate colleague of Schumer—lauded the speech. The top-level endorsement seemed to reveal broader concern in US politics and across the nation in general.
Biden said: “He made a good speech, and I think he expressed a serious concern shared not only by him but many Americans.”
Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, also saw the speech as a sign of waning support for Netanyahu from Israel’s traditionally unwavering allies in Washington.
On its part, Netanyahu’s ruling Likud Party hit out at Schumer’s remarks, describing them as an attack on Israel’s sovereignty and democratic process.
There was also criticism of Schumer closer to home.
"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," Republican and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnel said.
"This is unprecedented. We should not treat fellow democracies this way at all.”
Schumer’s shift in position was all the more significant because he is an ardent supporter of Israel, a close friend of Biden, and a prominent figure in American politics.
Significant criticism
A senator for over four decades, Schumer holds an important position in the Democratic Party. He has also championed Israel’s right to independently manage its security and political challenges, with the full support of the US. Immediately after 7 October, Schumer travelled to Israel to show his full support.
Schumer’s transformation from an unwavering supporter to a nuanced critic did not stop at Netanyahu. He condemned other prominent Israeli politicians holding senior government positions—including the ministers of finance and national security—for fostering extremism against Palestinians and backing displacement.
Schumer's stature makes his criticism all the more significant. He is a leading Jewish senator in New York, home to the world's largest Jewish population outside of Israel: approximately 2.2 million people, equivalent to about 30% of Israel's total Jewish population.
It may amount to a potential inflexion point in the political dynamics of relations between the US and Israel and a direct challenge to the Israeli right wing and its US supporters.
The change also reveals how the internal politics of the Democratic party is changing into November’s presidential election.
Facing challenges from within its own ranks, the party is contending with growing dissatisfaction among its members over Israel's actions in Gaza.
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