WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden expressed support Friday for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after the senator called for new elections in Israel, the latest sign that the U.S. relationship with its closest Middle East ally is careening toward fracture over the war in Gaza.
Schumer, a Jewish Democrat from New York, sent tremors through both countries this week when he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way” and warned that “Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah” as Palestinian casualties continue to grow.
“He made a good speech,” Biden said in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ireland’s prime minister. “I think he expressed serious concerns shared not only by him but by many Americans.”
I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve ever heard of an elected Jewish leader call out any sitting Israeli leader.
Ah you can always rely on Bernie. He’s obviously not as senior as Schumer but he called it first.
My bad.
Oh not at all! I wasn’t calling you out in any way. My first instinct was the same as yours and then I thought “Wait…What about Bernie?” but I had to google it.
It’s all good. I should have remembered Bernie.
On the other hand, Schumer is 100% AIPAC approved. For him to come out means a lot.
Definitely. And no offense to Bernie, because he’s an absolute gentleman, but if we’re honest it means more for Schumer to.
Not at all. Bernie isn’t a Democrat, but he caucuses (allies in chambers) with them. He has the latitude to float trial policy balloons and gague how the electorate responds before the party commits to a position. Bernie is a perfect stalking horse for the Dems because he can say the “radical” stuff out loud without scaring off the Wall Street donors.
Am I saying he’s a cat’s paw for the DNC? No! Not by a long shot. He’s progressive though, and is a great pathfinder for new ideas that resonate with a nebulous and fickle bloc of voters. In these times, his constituency are solely needed at the polls.
Yes, it’s mercenary. These are Interesting Times.
You could argue that running for President on the Democratic ticket makes him a de facto Dem.
And “may you live in interesting times” is supposedly an old Asian curse.
I’m not disagreeing, but he’s still (I-VT). What I am saying is there’s most likely a rugged utility in that both sides recognize.
Yup. Interesting times, indeed.