ISRAEL - Likud Responds To Schumer Speech: "Israel Is Not A Banana Republic"

Likud, the party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has responded to a speech by US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) which attacked "far-right extremists" in the government and called for new elections.

• Likud: "Israel is not a banana republic but an independent and proud democracy that elected Prime Minister Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu leads a determined policy that is supported by a huge majority of the people.
• "Contrary to Schumer's words, the Israeli public supports a complete victory over Hamas, rejects any international attempts to dictate the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state, and opposes the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza. A Senator is expected to respect Israel's elected government and not undermine it. This is always true, and even more so in wartime."
• Schumer's speech was immediately criticised by a raft of Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who claimed that Schumer was calling for "regime change" in a democratic ally.
• Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Herzog said in a statement: "Israel is a sovereign democracy. It is unhelpful, all the more so as Israel is at war against the genocidal terror organization Hamas, to comment on the domestic political scene of a democratic ally. It is counterproductive to our common goals."
• White House National Security Council Comms Advisor John Kirby told reporters that the White House was aware the Schumer would be making a speech but were not informed of the substance.