Biden backs call for elections in Israel

WASHINGTON • U.S. President Joe Biden expressed support Friday for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer after the senator called for new elections in Israel, the latest sign that the U.S. relationship with its closest Middle East ally is careening toward fracture over the war in Gaza.

Schumer, a Jewish Democrat from New York, sent tremors through both countries this week when he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has “lost his way” and warned that “Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah” as Palestinian casualties continue to grow.

“He made a good speech,” Biden said in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ireland’s prime minister. “I think he expressed serious concerns shared not only by him but by many Americans.”

The Democratic president’s backing for Schumer could further frustrate Netanyahu, whose political party has already sharply criticized the U.S. senator.

“One would expect Sen. Schumer to respect Israel’s elected government and not undermine it,” Netanyahu’s political party Likud said in a statement. “This is always true, and even more so in wartime.”

Biden’s comments reflect the evolution of his views on the war, which began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 Israelis. Around 250 people were abducted, and Hamas is believed to still be holding about 100 hostages.

Since then, Israel’s counterattack has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza. Gaza’s health ministry doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up two-thirds of the dead.

After his State of the Union speech earlier this month, Biden said that he needed to have a “come to Jesus” conversation with Netanyahu. He also accused Netanyahu of “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” with his leadership of the war.

The latest challenge to the U.s.-israeli relationship is Israel’s plan to pursue Hamas into Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have gathered to avoid fighting in the north.

Israel has approved military plans to attack Rafah, Netanyahu’s office said Friday.

The operation will involve the evacuation of the civilian population, the statement said, without specifying how or when this would take place.

The military said Wednesday it planned to direct them to “humanitarian islands” in the centre of the territory ahead of its planned offensive in the area.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, “we have to see a clear and implementable plan” to safeguard civilians from an Israeli incursion.

But Blinken said tough conversations between allies do not mean the alliance is fracturing.