Everyone’s hopping mad today, including Ya’akov Katz. He can be excitable but today he was downright livid about the irresponsible comments of Senator Chuck Schumer late last week, backed up by President Biden. Schumer – the most senior Democratic US Senator – basically said that it’s time for Israel to have elections so that PM Netanyahu will be thrown out of the top job. It was disrespectful. Stupid. And put Israel in heightened danger vis a vis its enemies in the region by broadcasting that the critical alliance between America and Israel is imperiled. Whatever he thought he was accomplishing remains a mystery. In doing so Schumer also made the already desperate situation of the Israeli hostages being held by Hamas even worse. And he only stiffened Netanyahu’s resolve to push on with the job that he feels must be done; to degrade Hamas’ military might and capability with a final military push on Rafah. We finish up with a brief discussion of gutter domestic politics in Israel which, if nothing else, offers a bit of levity and release of some tension. Another week in Israel. Month 6 of the War on Gaza and Hamas.
To be honest I’m conflicted about Schumer’s speech. On the one hand, I believe Bibi was/is/will be a disaster for Israel. He is the one threatening Israel’s security and the US-Israel alliance. The sooner he goes- and I believe Vivian you and Yakov want him to go- the better. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want Schumer’s honest and correct assessment of Bibi’s corrosive impact to be used by Bibi to strengthen his stature in Israel. In the old days, Israelis wanted their PM to work cooperatively with the U.S. on whom they rely militarily and diplomatically. Guess that has changed. Not just in the last two years. Bibi has spent a lot of time and energy alienating Democrats. He’s the guy who came to Congress to undermine Obama’s effort to sign the JCPOA. And he doesn’t want outside intervention in Israel’s sovereignty. Talk about chutzpah. Bottom line- most American Jews want Hamas defeated with as little Palestinian suffering as possible, release of the hostages, and a “day after” plan to rebuild Gaza and do so in a framework that could lead to wider Israeli acceptance in the region and peace with the Palestinians. As Schumer pointed out, this won’t happen with Bibi at the helm.
There's more to Schumer's comments than meets the eye. The democrats are losing votes by supporting Israel, especially in Michigan, a swing state. They are pandering to the Arabs in Deerborn, headquarters of the US Arab population. 55% of the population are Arabs. Schumer is pandering to them big time.
Glad to see I’m not the only one to comment.
To be honest I’m conflicted about Schumer’s speech. On the one hand, I believe Bibi was/is/will be a disaster for Israel. He is the one threatening Israel’s security and the US-Israel alliance. The sooner he goes- and I believe Vivian you and Yakov want him to go- the better. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want Schumer’s honest and correct assessment of Bibi’s corrosive impact to be used by Bibi to strengthen his stature in Israel. In the old days, Israelis wanted their PM to work cooperatively with the U.S. on whom they rely militarily and diplomatically. Guess that has changed. Not just in the last two years. Bibi has spent a lot of time and energy alienating Democrats. He’s the guy who came to Congress to undermine Obama’s effort to sign the JCPOA. And he doesn’t want outside intervention in Israel’s sovereignty. Talk about chutzpah. Bottom line- most American Jews want Hamas defeated with as little Palestinian suffering as possible, release of the hostages, and a “day after” plan to rebuild Gaza and do so in a framework that could lead to wider Israeli acceptance in the region and peace with the Palestinians. As Schumer pointed out, this won’t happen with Bibi at the helm.
There's more to Schumer's comments than meets the eye. The democrats are losing votes by supporting Israel, especially in Michigan, a swing state. They are pandering to the Arabs in Deerborn, headquarters of the US Arab population. 55% of the population are Arabs. Schumer is pandering to them big time.
A great window on Israel, you two are so informative and the laughs a little flicker of light.
For those who are interested I recommend this interview with Sen. Schumer's rabbi, Rabbi Rachel Timoner of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/16/chuck-schumer-rabbi-israel-remarks-00147416
Of course I will listen to this, but I do not agree with your comments about Sen. Schumer's speech - at all.