Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is refusing to bow to calls by the top US senator for a new election and is pushing back against White House warnings about a potential new offensive in Gaza, widening a rift with top Democrats in Washington.
But the gulf in trust and goals between Israel and Hamas has thwarted hopes for a breakthrough for weeks.
“It’s inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there.
That’s something that Israel, the Israeli public does on its own, and we’re not a banana republic,” Netanyahu said.
Despite the Israeli prime minister’s stand, there is increasing criticism of his approach in the US and overseas, at a time when his position among some Israeli voters is fragile, five months after terror attacks that besmirched his brand as the country’s ultimate security guarantor.
Persons:
Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Dana Bash, Chuck Schumer –, –, Netanyahu, “, we’re, ” Netanyahu
Organizations:
Hamas
Locations:
Gaza, Washington, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem