Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), a Jew, gave a critical speech yesterday to the U.S. Senate about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his conduct of Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It was, in my opinion, right on the mark. Now, I’ve always been an independent voter who voted mostly Republican. Yet I think Democrat Chuck Schumer is a pretty good politician who has some wisdom and, being Jewish, he has more insight into what is best for Israel and for trying to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Another Jewish American senator like that, who much agrees with Schumer about Israel, is Bernie Sanders (D-VT).
Schumer Says Israel Is Becoming “A Pariah”
Mr. Schumer said in his speech that the Netanyahu administration’s conduct of the war is turning Israel into an international “pariah.” That is, most nations of the world are growing extremely critical of Israel having killed over 30,000 residents of tiny Gaza in less than six months and refusing to allow humanitarian aid to a starving population of 2.3 million Gaza residents, of whom nearly all have been uprooted from their homes and living in squalid conditions. And now Israel intends to attack Hamas in Rafah, which could double the present number of casualties in Gaza. Schumer also has been saying since last November that Israel’s conduct of this war in Gaza is causing a flood of antisemitism in the world and making American Jews feel “alone.”
Biden Says Netanyahu Is “Hurting Israel”
Moreover, the decades-long friendship between U.S. President Joe Biden and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is fracturing over this crisis. Biden had been quite silent as the war proceeded, which was
sparked by Hamas militants invading Israel from Gaza and killing 1.200 Israelis on October 7th last year. Most people agree, as President Biden said, that Israel has a right to defend itself. But in recent weeks, President Biden has been speaking out forcefully against Netanyahu, whom his friends call “Bibi,” accusing him of misguided direction in governing Israel and conducting this war due to its high Palestinian casualty rate. Biden said last week in an interview that Netanyahu was “hurting Israel more than helping Israel.” According to the polls, Israelis agree. Most Israeli voters are disenchanted with Netanyahu’s leadership and want a new election soon. That’s what Schumer said in his speech is much needed in Israel–a new government. Why? He said, “Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah.”
Bibi Opposes the Traditional Two-State Solution
Netanyahu has been prime minister of Israel most all of this century. And he has never made it clear where he stands on the question about a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although many have said he has been against it. But when President Biden came out weeks ago for the first time, calling for an eventual two-state solution when this Gaza war ends, Netanyahu responded publicly and firmly by saying he does not support a two-state solution.
An Alternative Two-State Solution Is Needed
In my opinion–as close observer of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for fifty years and an author on it–opposition to a two-state solution is anathema for the future of Israel. And Chuck Schumer believes that as well. However, I think there needs to be an alternative to the traditional two-state solution in which Palestine would be located in the West Bank and Gaza. In my book, I propose an alternative, in which the State of Palestine is located solely in the coastal plain as a very expanded Gaza Strip, and Israel annexes all of the West Bank. I believe that this arrangement in indicated in Bible prophecy, in the ancient predictions of the Hebrew prophets made thousands of years ago.
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