In a recent speech that Biden praised, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a roadblock to peace.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for new elections in Israel and strongly criticized Netanyahu’s actions during the Gaza conflict. Republicans and Israeli authorities were appalled by Shumer’s meddling in an ally’s presidential elections.
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby dodged the question of whether or not President Joe Biden agrees with Schumer on multiple occasions during Friday, March 15th’s episode of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports.
Host Andrea Mitchell noted that the president seemed to agree with Senator Schumer’s remarks, describing it as “a good speech.”
Kirby said that Biden holds Leader Schumer in the highest esteem. To ensure that more humanitarian aid can reach the Gazan people and that they can do more to relieve their suffering, the President will continue working with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his War Cabinet, as he has done before. Israel has the right to self-defense, and they remain committed to assisting them in this endeavor.
According to Mitchell, the president chose the terms he used, praising the speech and stating that he appreciated Schumer. She again asked Kirby if he would agree with the president and Schumer that Prime Minister Netanyahu stands in the way of peace.
In response, Kirby chose to ignore the question again. He said the president is aware that Israelis have the power to choose their representatives in government.
Mitchell reiterated her earlier question about whether the president believes the prime minister of Israel is a peace barrier.
According to Kirby, the president would maintain his cooperation with Netanyahu to do everything possible to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Mitchell told the audience that her question was asked three times, and three times, Kirby would not answer. She then proceeded to change to subject to Israel’s upcoming offensive in Rafah.
