Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address U.S. Republican senators via video linkup to their weekly policy lunch on Wednesday, a source familiar with the plan said, days after the Senate’s Democratic leader gave a speech harshly criticizing him as an obstacle to peace.
Quick Read
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address U.S. Republican senators via video at their weekly policy lunch on Wednesday.
- The address highlights the politicization of U.S. Israel policy, with Netanyahu aligned with Republicans.
- Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer recently criticized Netanyahu, calling for new elections in Israel.
- Netanyahu defended his government’s policies in a CNN interview, emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself.
- The event underscores the intertwining of U.S. domestic politics and foreign policy towards Israel.
The Associated Press has the story:
Netanyahu to address U.S. GOP senators, after speech by Democrat Schumer
Newslooks- WASHINGTON, (AP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address U.S. Republican senators via video linkup to their weekly policy lunch on Wednesday, a source familiar with the plan said, days after the Senate’s Democratic leader gave a speech harshly criticizing him as an obstacle to peace.
The plan underscored the politicization of Washington’s Israel policy, in which the Israeli leader has been aligned with Republicans.
In his speech last week, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, long a supporter of Israel and the highest-ranking Jewish U.S. elected official, told the Senate that Netanyahu’s government “no longer fits the needs of Israel” five months into a war that began with attacks on Israel by Hamas militants on Oct. 7. Schumer urged new elections. Republicans in turn harshly criticized Schumer.
Netanyahu told CNN on Sunday that Schumer’s speech was inappropriate.
