Senator McConnell: ‘Schumer’s Criticism of Israel Grotesque and Hypocritical’

Senate Minority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (Rep.) has reacted sharply to Democrat Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s recent remarks advocating for new elections in Israel. McConnell criticized the call, stating, “It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about interference in our own democracy” to urge the removal of Israel’s leader.

He emphasized that the main “obstacles to peace” in Israel stem from genocidal terrorists and corrupt Palestinian Authority (PA) leaders who consistently rebuff peace agreements. McConnell cautioned foreign observers against meddling in the democratic processes of a sovereign ally without a clear understanding of the region’s complexities.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett echoed similar sentiments, expressing strong opposition to external political interference in Israel’s internal affairs. “Regardless of our political positions, we strongly oppose external political interference in Israel’s internal affairs. We are an independent nation, not a banana republic. The danger of terrorism is on the way to the West and it would be good if they would help Israel in its justified war. In the long run, they are defending themselves as well,” Bennett said.

Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition, lamented Schumer’s speech as indicative of a deteriorating support base for Israel within the United States. Lapid said that “Senator Schumer’s speech is proof that Netanyahu is losing our best supporters in the US. Even worse is that he is doing it on purpose. Netanyahu is causing serious damage to the national effort to win the war and preserving Israel’s security.”

Israel’s ambassador to the US, Mike Herzog, joined the chorus of disapproval directed at Schumer’s remarks, condemning them as counterproductive and ill-timed. Herzog stressed Israel’s status as a sovereign democracy and criticized attempts to interfere in its internal political dynamics, particularly during a period of heightened conflict with Hamas. He emphasized the importance of unity in pursuing common goals and urged against actions that could undermine Israel’s efforts to address security challenges.

In his speech, Schumer called Netanyahu one of the “four obstacles” to peace in the Middle East and claimed that “the Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel.”

Schumer’s speech focused on Netanyahu’s perceived role as an obstacle to peace in the Middle East, citing his rejection of immediate Palestinian statehood and the presence of far-right politicians in his coalition. Schumer’s criticism centered on Netanyahu’s response to the Hamas massacre of October 7 and the inclusion of politicians with hardline stances within the government. Despite these assertions, polls indicate that a majority of Israelis oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, complicating the narrative surrounding peace efforts in the region.

{Matzav.com}