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WASHINGTON (CC) - Last Thursday Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in an epic speech declared that a new election in Israel is necessary to quickly replace weathered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Schumer insisted that Netanyahu had gravely rejected the two-state solution proposed by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and President Joe Biden designed to help solve the Israeli-Arab conflict.
The idea of recognizing a Palestinian state alongside Israel is now a movement gathering strong headwinds within the international detente community that includes Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
Schumer spoke on the US Senate floor concerning "the path forward to secure lasting peace and mutual prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians."
“In my opinion, that is best accomplished by holding an election,” he asserted.
“If Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current coalition remains in power after the war begins to wind down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance, then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course,” the senate majority leader said.
“As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders, and we should let the chips fall where they may. But the important thing is that Israelis are given a choice. There needs to be a fresh debate about the future of Israel,” he said in outlining "four major obstacles" standing in the way of accord: Hamas and its supporters, radical right-wing Israelis, Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
"Until they are all removed from the equation there will never be peace in Israel and Gaza and the West Bank,” Schumer said.
The Christian Commander has consistently reported that many organizations such as End Times Ministries insist that a seven-year peace deal signed by Jews and Arabs will start the countdown to the "Great Tribulation" and the return of Jesus Christ.
In his oration that sizzled Jerusalem, the enduring senator made no mention of what ETM cites as Daniel's 70th Week Prophecy.
Schumer advised that he was speaking for himself, as well as silent mainstream Jewish Americans, as a "guardian of the people of Israel."
Vowing that "we'll never forget what happened on Oct. 7," referring to the terrorist attacks last fall that catalyzed the ongoing Israel-Hamas War, he maintained that anguish and anger must be replaced by clear judgment and implementation of a two-state solution.
“The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7," Schumer said.
"The world has changed – radically – since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.”
“Nobody expects Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the things that must be done to break the cycle of violence, to preserve his credibility on the world stage, to work to a two-state solution."
The senator from New York was also trenching of the 88-year-old Abbas who he said was a "terrible role model and spiritual leader," and that Palestinians were no more prosperous, safer or freer under his leadership of the "corrupt" Palestinian Authority.
"For there to be any hope of peace in the future, Abbas must step down and be replaced by a new generation of Palestinian leaders who will work towards attaining peace with a Jewish state."
Both Netanyahu and Abbas have been very longstanding political sycophants in Israel that has exhibited almost zero movement toward peace since the two men have been at opposite bureaucratic helms.
Left-leaning Brooklyn native Schumer stated in the speech that he himself is the highest-ranking elected Jewish official in US history. He has been pro-Israel throughout his Democratic Party career that began in the 1970s.
In recent years he has increasingly criticized Netanyahu, 75, for moving Jerusalem further to the political right.
On Thursday Schumer insisted Netanyahu has “lost his way, putting himself in coalition with far-right extremists like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.”
The Israeli leader “has all too frequently bowed to the demands of extremists” and has let “his political survival take precedence over the best interests of Israel.”
Schumer asserted that “as a result, 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."
The Times of Israel reported on Jerusalem's response to the speech.
Netanyahu’s Likud party said, “Israel is an independent and proud democracy that elected Prime Minister Netanyahu, not a banana republic.”
“Prime Minister Netanyahu leads a determined policy that is supported by a huge majority of the people,” it added. “Contrary to Schumer's words, the Israeli public supports a complete victory over Hamas, rejects any international dictates to establish a Palestinian terrorist state, and opposes the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza."
“It is expected of Senator Schumer to respect Israel’s elected government and not undermine it. This is always true, but even more so during wartime.”
War cabinet minister Benny Gantz, one of Netanyahu’s political rivals posted this on social media:
“The United States and Israel share common values and interests, and the citizens of Israel profoundly cherish the clear stance of the United States in support of Israel throughout these trying times,” Gantz wrote.
“The Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is a friend of Israel, and though he erred in his remarks, plays an important role in assisting the State of Israel, including during these difficult times.”
“Israel is a robust democracy, and only its citizens will decide its future and leadership. Any external interference on the matter is counter-productive and unacceptable”
Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday that Schumer's comments were "totally inappropriate ... to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership."
Schumer spoke to The New York Times on Tuesday and said it took him about two months and 10 drafts to ready his speech that was cleared by the White House. He contemplated asking Netanyahu to step down but did not because it would have crossed a line.
The political battle for a two-state solution in Israel is an ongoing global story. The Christian Commander will provide accurate updates and breaking news as they occur.
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Reginald Spann is the Publisher and Senior Content Editor of both The Christian Commander and Seven Angels Sentinel. He has been writing and editing professionally for over 20 years and is the author of the book: The Healing of a Nation.
A graduate of the University of Missouri - St. Louis' school of psychology (BA) with a minor in communications, he is a freelance journalist who is available for editing and writing about a variety of content including sports, religion, politics, entertainment and pop culture.
You may contact him through our Partnership page at christiancommander.com
Very good article. Lord help us.