No. of Recommendations: 2
I think Schumer's speech cuts through some of that self-delusion by first signaling to Americans who want ZERO criticism of Israel that no nation should be sacrosanct and immune from criticism. It also signals to simpletons that this situation is incredibly complicated and requires the ability to criticize countries we are actively supporting. The "correct" policy is unlikely to emerge from a mindset that tolerates no critique. Finally, it cuts through some of the willful suspension of disbelief and cuts to the chase that Netanyahu is not a leader with the appropriate policies and leadership skills to solve the long term problem being worsened by Israel's current response to the October attacks. His policies are fatally flawed in the judicial, social, military and security realms and will recursively worsen every problem Israel faces.
In some sense, Schumer's speech was directed at the entire American population as an attempt to cut through the BS and trigger a more realistic debate about how to address the Gaza nightmare.But see...I don't think it does any of that.
Schumer calls for new elections and getting rid of the Netanyahu coalition. Which, fine - but nearly all of Netanyahu's policies have majority support among Israelis. Arguably, if anything Netanyahu's perhaps a bit more
moderate than median Israeli opinion these days. As I quoted over on TMF on the subject:
As the Israeli journalist Amit Segal observes, “There is a significant disparity between Israel’s leadership and its citizens — but it’s the opposite of what people in Washington assume.” The policies of Israel’s war cabinet are restrained relative to public opinion. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign-policy instincts are moderate by Israeli standards. If “the Israeli people” somehow controlled the war in Gaza directly, it might be even more devastating.https://archive.is/fXoQ5#selection-767.0-779.105I think Schumer
maintains the willful suspension of disbelief in the U.S. that what's happening is an outcome specific to the Netanyahu Administration, and not legitimately a reflection of what the majority of the Israeli electorate wants. Replacing Netanyahu isn't going to result in a permanent ceasefire or bring the two-state solution back from the dead. It's weird that Schumer gave a speech that made it seem like it might.
