Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Israeli prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should resign, calling him an obstacle to the two-state solution.
Pelosi’s remarks has come in the wake of growing discontent following the recent resignation of the intelligence chief of the Israel Defense Forces over failures related to the 7 October Hamas-led attack.
In an interview with Irish broadcaster RTÉ’s Six One News, Pelosi expressed concerns over Netanyahu’s leadership, stating, “We recognize Israel’s right to protect itself. We reject the policy and the practice of Netanyahu — terrible. He should resign. He’s ultimately responsible.”
Pelosi, a Democrat from California, questioned Netanyahu’s stance on peace, saying, “I don’t know whether he’s afraid of peace, incapable of peace, or just doesn’t want peace. He has been an obstacle to a two-state solution.”
The Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC, has yet to respond to Pelosi’s remarks.
Pelosi made these statements during her visit to Ireland, where she was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Fulbright Ireland Public Service Award. Her comments add to the growing discontent within the Democratic ranks regarding US policy towards Israel.
Earlier this month, Pelosi was among more than three dozen members of Congress who signed a letter urging President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to reconsider a recent decision to authorise a new arms package transfer to Israel.
The lawmakers called for a halt in arms transfers until a full investigation into the airstrike that killed seven World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers earlier this month is completed.
Pelosi’s call for Netanyahu’s resignation echoes sentiments expressed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who, in a recent speech on the Senate floor, called for new elections in Israel to replace the current leadership.
Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the US, said “the Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after 7 October.”
Source: Agencies
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