A call by US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer for fresh elections in Israel has prompted a torrent of reactions.
His criticism of the Israeli prime minister on the floor of the Senate was perhaps the most scathing of any American politician of his ranking since the war began.
While it does not represent White House policy – the Biden administration has distanced itself, saying Congress is an independent body – the comments have prompted heavy criticism from Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party.
What did Chuck Schumer say?
Mr Schumer spoke for 30 minutes on what he called the four obstacles to peace: Hamas and any Palestinians who support it; radical right-wing Israelis; Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas; and Benjamin Netanyahu.
He first called for Mr Abbas to step down for his evasion of elections, failure to empower future leadership, and his embrace of antisemitism.
But it was Mr Schumer’s criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu that has drawn the most attention.
“As the first Jewish majority leader of the US Senate and the highest-ranking Jewish elected official ever, I also feel very keenly my responsibility as… a guardian of the people of Israel,” he began.
“To achieve that lasting peace that we so long for, Israel must make some significant course corrections.”
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