In the News
JNS highlighted B’nai B’rith International’s condemnation of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s call for new, unscheduled elections in Israel in its coverage of major Jewish organizations’ criticisms of Schumer’s remarks.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) drew widespread criticism in Washington and in Israel for saying on the Senate floor on Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an “obstacle” to peace and that Israel should hold unscheduled elections.
The New York Democrat, who often notes that he is the most powerful elected Jewish politician in U.S. history and that, true to his name, he is a “shomer,” or guardian, of the Jewish people, has also drawn critical responses from Jewish nonprofits, even centrist ones that have reputations of being reserved about politics.
“We are deeply troubled by Senate Majority Leader Schumer’s call for new elections in Israel. Israel is a democratic state whose citizens choose their own leaders and decide their own fate,” stated B’nai B’rith International.
“The U.S. should stand behind Israel’s objective, supported by the vast majority of Israelis, of removing Hamas from control of Gaza,” the international nonprofit added. “As long as Hamas remains in power, there can be no peace in the region.”
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