Middle East & Africa | Israel and America

Deposing Israel’s king

America wants Binyamin Netanyahu out. But his exit is fraught with dangers

Anti-government protest in Tel Aviv
Photograph: Getty Images
|JERUSALEM 

After weeks of Israel flouting America’s advice on making greater provision for civilians in Gaza, on March 14th something snapped. Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader and one of Israel’s staunchest supporters in the Democratic Party, accused the country’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, of having “lost his way” and being “too willing to tolerate the civilian toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows”. Crucially, Mr Schumer, who is Jewish, called for early elections in Israel. Shortly after, Joe Biden endorsed this message, calling the remarks “a good speech”.

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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Deposing Israel’s king”

From the March 23rd 2024 edition

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