Schumer’s breakup with Netanyahu signals a big change on Israel among Democrats

Few Democrats have vocally supported Israel — and, consequently, its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu — as much as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. As Netanyahu thumbed his nose at Barack Obama throughout Obama’s presidency, even coming to Washington to try and scuttle the Iran nuclear agreement, Schumer steadfastly supported Israel’s longest-serving leader.

Schumer frequently invokes his Jewish faith and heritage, specifically talking about his late father Abe telling him, “If you are doing the right thing and you persist, God will reward you and will succeed.” But on Thursday, Schumer made clear that he will not reward Bibi.

In a floor speech, Schumer noted his surname comes from the term shomer, meaning “guardian” in Hebrew, and added that his “nuanced views on the matter have never been well-represented in this country’s discussions about the war in Gaza.” He spoke candidly about his youth in Brooklyn, and added that after “five months of suffering on both sides of this conflict, our thinking must turn — urgently — to how we can achieve lasting peace.”

Schumer called for “course corrections” and named three major obstacles he sees to peace. Unsurprisingly, he blamed Hamas, which launched the surprise assault on Israel in October last year, but added: “Palestinian civilians do not deserve to suffer for the sins of Hamas, and Israel has a moral obligation to do better.”

He then turned his attention to Netanyahu’s government, which the right-wing prime minister has filled with extremists and nationalists — such as Ministry of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has called for the subjugation of Palestinians. Schumer also criticised the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, which has long lacked a