President Biden expressed his support for Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer‘s pointed speech excoriating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the invasion of Gaza and calling for new leadership in Israel.
“He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans,” Mr. Biden told reporters Friday during an Oval Office meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar.
Mr. Biden said that staffers for Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, had notified the White House before making the remarks on the Senate floor Thursday.
Much of the tension between Israel and the U.S. boiled over when Mr. Schumer offered the fiercest criticism so far of Mr. Netanyahu by an elected U.S. official.
“I believe in his heart, his highest priority is the security of Israel,” said Mr. Schumer, who is Jewish. “However, I also believe Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel.”
“He has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows. Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Mr. Schumer said.
The president’s comments, essentially endorsing Mr. Schumer‘s move, are the latest example of the increasingly frayed relationship between him and Mr. Netanyahu as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to spiral out of control. Mr. Biden and other top Democrats are under increasing pressure from progressives to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza.
The U.S. is still Israel‘s closest ally and biggest provider of military aid, but tension between Mr. Biden and the Israeli prime minister has become more public in recent weeks as the Israeli invasion continues.
Mr. Biden has become increasingly vocal in calling for Israel to allow more humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza, adding that didn’t want to hear any “excuses.” He also called Israel‘s response in Gaza “over the top.”
Mr. Netanyahu has clapped back at Mr. Biden, telling him the comments were hurting more than helping Israel and saying he was wrong about the criticism.
Source:Washington Times
