White House spokesman John Kirby responded to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's call for Israel to hold elections and replace the current right-wing government, and said that Schumer had notified the administration in advance of the speech he planned to deliver but that the White House had no influence on it.
According to Kirby, "Senator Schumer informed the White House in advance of his intention to give a speech and of what he was going to say. He did not ask for approval or disapproval, and we did not interfere in any way with his words. In the end, the people of Israel will decide on the elections."
He also noted that "Schumer felt the need to speak out, and we will let him explain things. We are focused on ensuring that Israel has what it needs to defend itself, bringing in more aid, and releasing the hostages."
As mentioned, Schumer called for new elections in Israel, claiming that Prime Minister Netanyahu had "lost his way." "I have known Netanyahu for a long time. We had our differences, but I will always respect the great courage he had as a warrior on the battlefield," Schumer said. "I believe that Israel's security is a top priority in his heart - but I also believe that Netanyahu has lost his way when his political survival is allowed to become more important than Israel's national interests."
According to him, "The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7. The world has changed — radically — since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.
"Nobody expects Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the things that must be done to break the cycle of violence, preserve Israel’s credibility on the world stage, and work towards a two-state solution.
"If he were to disavow Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir, and kick them out of his governing coalition, that would be a real meaningful step forward.
"But regrettably, there is no reason to believe Prime Minister Netanyahu would do that.
"He won’t disavow Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir and their calls for Israelis to drive Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank. He won’t commit to a military operation in Rafah that prioritizes protecting civilian life. He won’t engage responsibly in discussions about a “day-after” plan for Gaza, and a longer-term pathway to peace.
