(Daily Mail) Benjamin Netanyahu is set to speak with Republican Senators in an apparent snub to President Biden after the White House praised Democrat Chuck Schumer’s call for new Israeli leadership.
The Israeli Prime Minister, 74, will speak with GOP lawmakers via video call at the conference’s regular lunch meeting on Wednesday, according to Punchbowl News.
Netanyahu’s appearance is said to be tentative, and comes a week after plans fell through for him to speak with Republicans a week ago at a policy retreat after he was invited by Wyoming Senator John Barrasso.
President Biden reportedly called his Israeli counterpart this week to calm tensions, after he praised Schumer for making a ‘good speech’ where the Jewish New York Senator slammed Netanyahu as an ‘obstacle to peace.’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to speak to Senate Republicans this week, amid fallout in Washington over the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict
President Biden was said to have called Netanyahu to calm tensions last week, after he praised Chuck Schumer for making a ‘good speech’ that called for the Israeli PM to be removed
Biden has faced mounting domestic pressure, particularly from Democrats, to halt Netanyahu’s actions in the conflict and to bring about a ceasefire.
The ongoing conflict has been cited as a factor in his recent poor poll numbers, while Democratic primaries have seen some vote ‘uncommitted’ rather than for the president to send a message.
While the White House has called for a temporary ceasefire, Netanyahu has vowed to continue the onslaught until Hamas has been destroyed – leading Schumer to deliver his scathing remarks.
‘He (Netanyahu) has been too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza. Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,’ he said.
‘As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7.
‘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.’
Schumer said the only solution is ‘a demilitarized Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in equal measures of peace, security, prosperity and dignity.’
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (C) leaves the Senate chamber on Thursday following his remarks on Netanyahu’s tenure
