Netanyahu's opposition to Palestinian state could complicate Senate aid package

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats aggressively pushed back Thursday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has informed the U.S. that he opposes the creation of a Palestinian state at the conclusion of the war in Gaza.

A key lawmaker, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., warned that Netanyahu’s remarks could complicate delicate bipartisan negotiations in the Senate on a supplemental package that calls for military aid for Israel coupled with immigration measures and aid for Ukraine.

“I think when Netanyahu says things like that, it does not help win votes from people who are skeptical about the future of a Palestinian state,” Murphy, the Democrats’ top negotiator on the package, told reporters. “That statement is not helpful and, yes, we’re going to need to get … a lot of Democratic votes to pass this.”

Progressives in the Senate, who’ve already been critical of Israel’s military assault in Gaza that has killed thousands of civilians, openly questioned whether the U.S. should continue to send aid to Israel. The close U.S. ally launched its military campaign after Hamas carried out a brazen terrorist attack in Israel on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,000 people.

“It is the official policy of the United States government that we support two nations for two people to live in dignity and with self-determination,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who serves on the Armed Services Committee. “If Prime Minister Netanyahu opposes that, then we need to question why we are supporting the Netanyahu government.”

Another liberal, Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., also had a sharp response for Netanyahu: “What we’re seeing with Netanyahu is that he is willing to take our money but will always reject our advice.”

“He does not share our