Senate Dem Leader Schumer To Make Major Pivot On Israel

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), one of Israel's most prominent backers in Washington, is reportedly preparing to call for a new government in Israel in a major speech on the Senate floor today. According to the WSJ, Schumer "is planning to declare that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “has lost his way” and call for Israeli elections aimed at choosing a new government in a major floor speech Thursday.

• Schumer will say: “Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel."
• WSJ adds: "His speech is the latest in a series of high-level warnings and White House moves aimed at pressuring Israel and Netanyahu’s government to permit more humanitarian aid into Gaza and to rethink its plans to attack Hamas..."
• Punchbowl News notes: “This week alone, eight Democratic senators called on President Joe Biden to end U.S. assistance to Israel if it continues to block safe passage of U.S. humanitarian aid into Gaza."
• This week, the office of the Director of National Intelligence declassified a report which offered a critical assessment of Israel's government: "Netanyahu’s viability as leader as well as his governing coalition of far-right and ultraorthodox parties that pursued hardline policies on Palestinian and security issues may be in jeopardy ... we expect large protests demanding his resignation and new elections. A different, more moderate government is a possibility."