WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday expressed support for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after the senator called for new elections in Israel, the latest sign that the US relationship with its closest ally in the Middle East is trending towards rifts over the war in Gaza.
Schumer, a Jewish Democrat from New York, sent tremors through both countries this week when he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way” and warned that “Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah” as the number of Palestinians victims continues to increase.
“He gave a good speech,” Biden said in the Oval Office during a meeting with the Irish prime minister. “I think he has raised serious concerns that are shared not only by him but by many Americans.”
The Democratic president’s support for Schumer could further frustrate Netanyahu, whose political party has already sharply criticized the US senator.
“You would expect Senator Schumer to respect Israel’s elected government and not undermine it,” Netanyahu’s political party Likud said in a statement. “This is always true, and even more so in times of war.”
Biden’s comments reflect the evolution of his views on the war, which began when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 Israelis. Since then, Israel’s counterattack has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
After his State of the Union address earlier this month, Biden said he needed to have a “come to Jesus” conversation with Netanyahu. He also accused Netanyahu of “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” with his leadership in the war.
The latest challenge to the US-Israeli relationship is Israel’s plan to pursue Hamas into Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where displaced Palestinians have gathered to avoid fighting in the north.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said from Vienna that “we need to see a clear and actionable plan” to protect civilians from an Israeli incursion.
“We have not seen such a plan yet,” he said.
But Blinken said tough talks between allies do not mean the alliance is falling apart.
“That’s actually the power of the relationship, to be able to speak clearly, candidly and directly,” he said.
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Associated Press writers Julia Frankel in Jerusalem, Matt Lee in Vienna and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
