Netanyahu attacks Schumer and dramatizes partisan division over Israel

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Senator Chuck Schumer in a closed-door speech to Senate Republicans on Wednesday, days after the Democratic majority leader branded him an obstacle to peace in the Middle East and called for new elections to replace him after the war. winds down.

Netanyahu’s virtual appearance before Republicans — and a refusal by Schumer to allow him to make a similar speech to Senate Democrats — dramatized the growing partisan divide on Capitol Hill and in American politics over the leadership of Netanyahu and Israel’s offensive in the US Gaza.

At the meeting, Mr. Netanyahu called Mr. Schumer’s speech in the Senate last week “completely inappropriate and outrageous,” according to Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri, who was present. And many Republican senators said they agreed with him.

“He wasn’t happy,” Mr Hawley said of the prime minister. “He made that very clear.”

In an explosive speech last week, Mr. Schumer named Mr. Netanyahu alongside Hamas as one of the main obstacles to peace, trying to make the case that Americans can love and support Israel and yet be deeply critical of Mr. Netanyahu and its far-right government.

President Biden called it a “good speech” and some Democrats applauded Mr. Schumer for speaking out at a time when Israel’s offensive against Hamas has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza, including civilians. But conservative Jewish groups and Republicans were stunned and dismayed, accusing Schumer of crossing a dangerous line.

Former President Donald J. Trump went even further, saying in an interview that Jews who vote for Democrats “hate Israel” and their religion. It was an extreme version of a tactic that many elected Republicans have long tried, portraying Democrats who question Mr. Netanyahu or his policies as denouncing Israel itself and even anti-Semitic.

His appearance at the Republican Party’s closed-door Confab on Wednesday was not the first time Mr. Netanyahu has waded into a bitter partisan fight over support for Israel, allying himself with Republicans eager to boost their support for Jewish wanted to show. In 2015, the prime minister accepted an invitation from Republicans in the House of Representatives to make his case against the Iran nuclear deal before Congress, without consulting the White House, which was then in the grip of negotiating the deal.

On Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Mr. Netanyahu told Republicans that his policies reflected the consensus of Israelis and that Mr. Schumer’s comments would not affect how he planned to proceed with his offensive.

“He made it very clear that he intends to continue the war against Hamas with the full extent of his power, and he said the American people are behind him,” said Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana. “He said even if we have to go alone, we won’t stop.”

Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and minority leader, said he told Netanyahu he believed Schumer had crossed a line by “giving advice to a Democratic ally on when to hold elections or what kind of military campaign to feed. conduct.”

“It seems to me that bipartisan support for Israel is beginning to waver,” Mr. McConnell said, making clear he thought Democrats were responsible.

In his speech, Mr. Schumer accused Mr. Netanyahu of pursuing policies that undermine Israel’s own democratic values ​​and jeopardize the possibility of a two-state solution in the future. He has accused Republicans of politicizing support for Israel, which has historically been bipartisan, and accused Netanyahu of only targeting Republicans.

During the meeting, Mr. Netanyahu asked Republicans to continue their vocal support for Israel and help the country end the war, several attendees said.

“He emphasized several times that Israel is not asking for American ground troops, and is not asking for America to fight its war,” Mr. Hawley said. Mr. Netanyahu asked for financial help to “get the job done” and urged senators to support whatever bill the House sent them that includes billions of dollars in aid to Israel.

Mr. Hawley said Republicans directly asked Mr. Netanyahu for figures on civilian casualties in Gaza. “He was very aware of it, he talked about it at length,” Mr. Hawley said, noting that Mr. Netanyahu assured them that the Israelis were doing everything they could to minimize civilian casualties. He said he estimated the death toll at about 28,000, about 2,000 fewer than Gaza’s health ministry said.

Israeli officials had asked if Mr Netanyahu could also address Democrats at their weekly closed-door lunch, but Mr Schumer rejected the request, saying he did not think it was appropriate for a foreign leader to address US elected officials at once . party forum.

“Senator Schumer has made it clear that he does not believe these discussions should take place in a partisan manner,” a spokesperson said. “That is not helpful for Israel.”

Mr. Schumer defended his speech on Wednesday amid a barrage of accusations that he interfered in the democratic process of a close ally.

“I gave the speech out of true love for Israel,” he said. “If you read the speech, we only called for elections after hostilities have subsided, after Hamas has been defeated.”

Republicans made clear they planned to continue harassing him over his speech and blaming Democrats for the growing partisan divide over support for Israel.

“Schumer doesn’t have to like or dislike Benjamin Netanyahu on a personal level,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas. “Schumer’s attack was against the people of Israel, because it was the people of Israel who voted. Chuck Schumer had the arrogance and audacity to try to instruct another nation as if it were a puppet state, a banana republic.”

Robert Jimison reporting contributed.