Chuck Schumer Announces Flurry of Israel Activity

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday called on senators to unanimously back a resolution affirming U.S. support for Israel and its right to defend itself while condemning Hamas.

“Supporting Israel must be at the top, at the front, at the center of our attention,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said in an emotional floor speech Monday afternoon, fresh from a trip to Israel. “The resolution matters because the Senate needs to declare in one voice that we stand with Israel and against Hamas.”

Schumer, the highest-ranking elected Jewish official in the United States, returned Monday morning from leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel over the weekend. He was joined by Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La.; Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.; Mitt Romney, R-Utah; and Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.

Schumer described himself as “shaken by anger and fear” with his “spirit moved down to its core by the terrible things I saw these past few days.”

Schumer described the trip as an unforgettable but obligatory experience to show solidarity with America's closest ally in the Middle East. “It was clear that just being there made a tremendous difference and boosted their resolve,” he said.

The congressional delegation met with Israeli leaders and a dozen families whose loved ones were taken hostage by Hamas, according to Schumer, who said the trip helped significantly push back on “the dangerous false equivalency between what Hamas is doing and the response against them.”

Some progressive Democrats have been more sympathetic to Palestinian civilians who are being caught up in the war between Israel and Hamas, with some calling for a ceasefire and de-escalation over a forceful response to Hamas’ widely condemned attack that launched the war.

“Hamas is an evil organization that wants to see Israel wiped off the face of the map,” Schumer said. “They don’t believe in a two-state solution. They want no Israel and no Jews living between Jordan and the Mediterranean. Eliminating Israel is part of their charter. So is the killing of Jews.”

Israel has an obligation to end the threat of Hamas, added Schumer, who signaled that the U.S. is working on a package in the coming weeks that will aid Israel in doing so.

“In the coming days, I will be working with the administration on putting together an emergency supplemental that will give Israel the tools it needs to defend itself,” he said. “That means military assistance, intelligence assistance, diplomatic assistance and humanitarian assistance to care for innocent civilians.”

Schumer said Congress must move the package “quickly” and that the Senate must go first given the chaos in the House, which has been paralyzed from advancing legislation since former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was ousted from his post nearly two weeks ago. House Republicans have yet to garner enough support for any candidate to succeed him, though the full House is scheduled to vote for a new speaker on Tuesday. 

“I know that the House is in disarray, but we cannot wait for them,” Schumer said. “The needs are too great, and if we pass a strong package with strong bipartisan support, it will importune the House somehow or other to act, despite the morass they are in.”

The New York Democrat also called for the swift confirmation of former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, whose confirmation hearing to be ambassador to Israel is scheduled for Wednesday. 

“The president has already sent us a capable and strong nominee in Jack Lew,” Schumer said. “It’s obvious that they really need an ambassador now more than ever. Mr. Lew has proven himself a strong public servant, a ferocious ally of Israel. So delaying him would be egregious at a time like this. We must move him quickly, and I hope we will.”

Senators will also receive a classified briefing from top administration officials Wednesday, Schumer said. 

“As the conflict evolves in the coming days and weeks, my office will work with the administration to ensure the Senate remains fully updated about the situation at all times,” he continued. “It is essential that we hear what is going on from our top leaders.”