It's certainly not normal for Sen. Schumer to call for new elections in Israel, but Schumer is the highest-ranking Jewish American in the last 250 years of American politics, so he's the right person to say it if it’s going to be said.
Israel deserves to have a Prime Minister who demonstrates integrity, morality, ethics and a genuine concern for humanitarian values.
@TonyStark Do you think President Biden is allowing Schumer to take the lead on this to deflect possible criticism? I really wish Biden would push harder on Netanyahu, someone who sees Palestinians as not worthy of any consideration.
Pre-emptively, I also want to say I am a huge Biden supporter and vigorously support him.
@Badger_AF I don’t think there’s any way to know that or to even know the full extent of what our administration is doing behind the scenes. I’m also not sure what “push harder” means- not at all meant to be difficult- that’s just somewhat unspecific. As a couple others have mentioned and I have in the past, we have a great deal of interest in maintaining diplomatic relations in the area, most especially if Netanyahu is at some point replaced. It’s not for us to take action in a direct way.
@Badger_AF
Schumer is nothing if not a careful man, so I'm sure he thought about it at length. But it was the right thing to do, and I'm glad he did it. I do not believe he meant to insert himself into another country’s affairs but to perhaps buttress those in the Knesset who are looking to bring Netanyahu’s rule to a close.
As a Jewish myself, I’d much rather hear this message from a prominent Jewish leader who’s been supportive of both Israel and Palestine existing as independent states.
@TonyStark By 'pushing harder' I feel that a lot of Muslim and Arab Americans feel the suffering of their people is unseen. I know President Biden is walking a very difficult path and probably doing a lot more behind the scenes, but from everything I've read, the majority of Israelis are still behind the war although it's being carried out at the cost of great suffering to the Palestinian people.
I'm not overly optimistic at change happening within Israel at this point.
@Badger_AF “Pushing harder” still doesn’t have specific context there.
We cannot go in an take over the government of Israel if that’s what you mean, any more than we can go in and expel Hamas
As far as the rest, you’d probably also be supportive of action if your own family and friends were killed and kidnapped in a terrorist attack, just as Palestinians are upset at the excessive attacks they’ve suffered. There’s no good side here.
Pushing ourselves further into Israel’s affairs certainly isn’t going to help if you believe most Israelis support the war. I will kindly remind you that many Israelis fight for and died fighting for peace.
@Badger_AF And to be honest with you, as someone who’s fought hard for change in this country when many think it’s hopeless, as well as someone with Jewish roots, it’s somewhat offensive that your hope for change is so non-existent. Jews aren’t a bunch of warmongering ghouls, thanks.
@TonyStark By pushing harder, I think Biden might start making aid conditional on ensuring that the safety and well-being of Palestinians is taken into account.
I understand we have a unique relationship with Israel since its founding, but it's also a two-way street. There needs to be consequences for Netanyahu's reckless leadership.
I get the urge to strike back - this was Israel's 9/11—but how did that turn out for us? 250,000 dead Iraqi's, thousands of dead and maimed soldiers.
@Badger_AF We’re on the path to doing that. It’s a process. No, I’m not discussing 9/11 in this context because it’s completely different circumstances. Enjoy your day.
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