Partisan Fallout From Schumer's Netanyahu Criticism Continues
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s call for new elections in Israel last Thursday sparked significant pushback throughout the week, especially from Republicans.
The Details: Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker in the U.S., argued that Israelis should replace Netanyahu with a leader committed to a two-state solution. Some Republicans criticized Schumer’s speech for meddling in Israeli politics; House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX) called the statement “very inappropriate and embarrassing.”
The Latest: While Netanyahu spoke with Senate Republicans virtually on Wednesday, Schumer declined a request for the Israeli leader to speak separately to Senate Democrats; a spokesman said Schumer “does not think these discussions should happen in a partisan manner.” House Speaker Mike Johnson said he planned to invite Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, and Schumer said he would “always welcome the opportunity for the Prime Minister of Israel to speak to Congress in a bipartisan way.”
How the Media Covered It: News and opinion coverage was common throughout the week, echoing partisan attitudes; an opinion in New York Magazine (Left bias) called Schumer “a Better Friend to Israel Than Netanyahu’s Allies,” and an opinion in Fox News (Opinion rated Right) said he was “out of touch with Israel.” Highlighting the story’s impact, The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) featured a report on Schumer above the fold for most of Thursday. This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Schumer Says He Criticized Netanyahu to Save Israel
To save Israel, Chuck Schumer decided, he had to denounce its leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The 73-year-old Senate majority leader spent two months laboring over the wording of a speech he expected would rock Washington and ricochet across America’s Jewish community. He didn’t talk to people about it, other than a small group of staff and his wife. He didn’t know if the politics would help or hurt him, he said. But he said he ultimately decided it didn’t matter.
“A lot of thought and wrestling in my head: Is this the right thing to...
From the Left
Senate Republicans speak with Netanyahu, claim partisan split over supporting Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Senate Republicans for about 45 minutes Wednesday in a closed-door videoconference at their weekly lunch where he asserted Israel must have the freedom and time to complete its war with Hamas.
He spoke with the GOP lawmakers days after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for Israel to hold a new election seen as a way to replace Netanyahu.
After the meeting, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said the prime minister expressed "commitment to completing the war and defeating Hamas," a U.S.-designated terrorist group.
"He was...
From the Right
Mike Johnson aims to invite Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday said he’ll ask Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before Congress.
“I would love to have him come and address a joint session of Congress. We’ll certainly extend that invitation,” Mr. Johnson said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
This comes after Mr. Netanyahu spoke virtually with Senate Republicans during lunch Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer denied the offer for fellow Democrats.
Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, also said he has been invited by Mr. Netanyahu to speak at the Knesset in Jerusalem, and they’re “just trying to work out schedules on all this.”
It’s unclear whether...
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