Volume 16, Issue 12
“The Jewish state of Israel deserves an ally that acts like one. The people of Israel at home, and in captivity, deserve America’s support. And Israel’s unity government and security cabinet deserve the deference befitting a sovereign democratic country. The primary obstacle to peace in Israel’s region are genocidal terrorists like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who slaughter innocent people, and corrupt leaders of the Palestinian Authority who have repeatedly, repeatedly rejected peace deals from multiple Israeli governments. And foreign observers who cannot keep these clear distinctions ought to refrain from weighing in. It is grotesque and hypocritical for Americans who hyperventilate about foreign interference in our own democracy, to call for the removal of the democratically elected leader of Israel. This is unprecedented. We should not treat fellow democracies this way, at all…Israel is not a colony of America whose leaders serve at the pleasure of the party in power in Washington. Only Israel’s citizens should have a say in who runs their government. This is the very definition of democracy and sovereignty. Either we respect their decisions, or we disrespect their democracy.”
— Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the floor of the Senate, in response to Senator Schumer’s remarks, March 14, 2024
