Republican condemnation, White House caution: In delivering a resounding speech on the Middle East on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, March 14, Chuck Schumer was bound to have anticipated such reactions. The Democratic majority leader of the Senate has always been seen as an ardent supporter of Israel.

In 2019, he expressed his wish "to keep our [political] polarization from poisoning the bipartisan support that Israel has always enjoyed" in the United States. Now, he is the one stirring up controversy by calling for early elections in Israel. According to the senator, the ruling coalition, dominated by the far-right, represents a major obstacle to resolving the conflict with the Palestinians.

"I believe that holding a new election once the war starts to wind down would give Israelis an opportunity to express their vision for the post-war future," Schumer said while adding of the October 7 Hamas attack "We cannot let anger or trauma determine our actions and cloud our judgment."

But on the road to a two-state solution, Schumer identified four "major obstacles." The first is Hamas, with the Democratic leader going on to recount the group's constant terrorist involvements. The senator then took the opportunity to echo the Biden administration, calling only for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. "A permanent ceasefire, effective immediately, would only allow Hamas to regroup and launch further attacks on Israeli civilians. There can never be a two-state solution if Hamas has any significant power."

The second obstacle is "second major obstacle to peace is radical right-wing Israelis in government and society." Schumer cited Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and his national security counterpart, Itamar Ben-Gvir, by name, detailing their calls for hatred and violence. "While not equivalent," he added, "extremist Palestinians and extremist Israelis seek the same goal: from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, they aim to push the other from the land."

Finally, the last two obstacles are the key leaders on both sides. "A terrible role model and spiritual leader," at the head of a "corrupt" Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas was called upon to leave his place to a new generation. But the most unprecedented part of the speech, especially from the mouth of someone so fervently in favor of Israel and so close to the White House, concerned Benjamin Netanyahu. Schumer believes that Netanyahu "has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel," banking on a coalition with the far-right that promises eternal war for the country and offers a vision "stuck in the past." According to the senator, "Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah."

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