Former Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT) sharply criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for his comments that pushed for new elections in Israel amid the ongoing war with the terrorist group Hamas. The former 2000 Democratic Party vice presidential nominee criticized Schumer’s comments less than a week after they were supported by President Joe Biden.
Lieberman made the comments during a radio interview, calling Schumer’s call for new elections to replace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “mistake. I can’t ever remember anything like it.”
“For a US senator — let alone the majority leader; let alone the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in Washington — to tell Israel that it’s time to get rid of Netanyahu, that’s outrageous,” Lieberman said.
“It’s a bad precedent for us to tell a friend and ally, a democratic ally, ‘Get rid of this government. we don’t like him,’ ” said Lieberman.
“As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it’s become clear to me that the Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7,” Schumer said last week.
Netanyahu also criticized Schumer’s words, calling them “totally inappropriate. It’s inappropriate for him to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there.”
The president was asked about Schumer’s comments during a meeting with the prime minister.
“He made a good speech,” said Biden. “I think he expressed serious concerns shared not only by him but by many Americans.”
Schumer’s comments received considerable criticism from many congressional Republicans and Democrats, who characterized them as well out of line and unprecedented.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) said that Schumer “willingly interfered in Israel’s elections. And Biden approved.”
“We SHOULD NOT be trying to replace the leaders of our allies, ESPECIALLY as they’re facing existential threats to their existence,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Schumer constantly warns of interference in US elections but willingly interfered in Israel's elections.
And Biden approved.
We SHOULD NOT be trying to replace the leaders of our allies, ESPECIALLY as they're facing existential threats to their existence. pic.twitter.com/QtLuoEP1hI
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) March 17, 2024
The comments came as Israel prepared an attack on the last Hamas stronghold of Rafah. The battle could decide the end of the war in Gaza after Hamas launched a terrorist attack last October that killed 1,200 people.
