Schumer’s fiery speech reflects growing frustration in Washington with Netanyahu, his management of the war, the failure to do more to protect Palestinian civilians and obstruction of aid deliveries in Gaza.
While Schumer didn’t mention the possibility of introducing legislation to tie the provision of US weapons to Israel easing the humanitarian crisis, the senator raised the possibility of Washington using its influence if Israel doesn’t change its policies.
“If Prime Minister Netanyahu’s current coalition remains in power after the war begins to wind down and continues to pursue dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing US standards for assistance, then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course,” he said.
The US provides Israel with about $3.8bn in military aid annually.
This month’s welcome to Washington by Schumer and administration officials of Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz was widely seen as a snub to Netanyahu, who has yet to be invited to the Biden White House.
source: AlJazeera