Chuck Schumer was right on Israel and Netanyahu

Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer — one of Israel’s longest-standing champions in either chamber of Congress — delivered a speech described as “heartfelt” and “anguished” on the Israel-Hamas war.

He strongly criticized Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and warned of the damage his government and its conduct in Gaza is doing to Israel’s standing, its security and the relationship between the United States and Israel.

Schumer’s address has been met with notable backlash, notably from Netanyahu himself who called it “totally inappropriate.” The speech also riled many leaders within the Jewish community, including several major American Jewish organizations. However, as President Biden said, “he expressed serious concerns shared not only by him but by many Americans.”

It’s deeply unfortunate that many of those who reflexively slam any criticism of the Israeli government as “anti-Israel” have sought to do the same to Schumer for his legitimate concerns at this time. Instead, these critics of Schumer would do well to listen to his clear, articulate and passionately pro-Israel message, as it reflects the thinking and intense anguish of so many in our community.

Moreover, his criticism of Netanyahu and his war cabinet’s conduct are exemplary of the deep love he holds for Israel. Stalwart support for Israel and criticism of actions by the Israeli government often go hand in hand — as many Israelis will attest to.

It’s profoundly Jewish for love and criticism to go hand in hand, and they have always walked together in the words and prayers of those who care deeply about Israel. Both in word and in practice, Schumer has articulated and maintained a deep love for Israel and an unwavering commitment to its Jewish future throughout his life.

In his speech, Schumer emphasized his long-time relationship with Netanyahu and noted that, despite many disagreements, he doesn’t doubt that Netanyahu’s “highest priority is the security of Israel.”

As such, Schumer argued that “the only real and sustainable solution to this decades-old conflict is a negotiated two-state solution — a demilitarized Palestinian state living side-by-side with Israel in equal measures of peace, security, prosperity, dignity, and mutual recognition.”

He highlighted key leaders of Israel, such as David Ben-Gurion, Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak, all of which were “staunch advocates for peace because they [understood] better than anybody that it is essential to Israel’s security” and “sought peace with the Palestinians.”

Schumer is not alone in his assessment of Israel and the issues with its current behavior. We have seen critiques of Netanyahu and his conduct from several pro-Israel, Zionist organizations. J Street, which welcomed Schumer’s remarks, has long denounced Netanyahu’s conduct since Oct. 7, strongly opposing Netanyahu and his government’s efforts to worsen the ongoing humanitarian crisis and to establish illegal settlements in Gaza.

T’ruah, which also applauded Schumer’s speech, has also called attention to the persistent disregard by Netanyahu’s administration for the well-being of Gazans.

The two of us and those with whom we have made common cause regarding Israel over the decades have understood that policies about Israel in the last 50 years can be divided between the politics of hope and the politics of despair. If we imagine a future in which Israel is safe, democratic and Jewish, then there must be a state by its side for Palestinians.

The truth is that neither Israelis nor Palestinians are going anywhere, and without equal measures of safety, freedom and self-determination, neither side will ever stop fighting for it. This vision for long-term peace is grounded in a politics of hope for both sides.

Any other path sentences Israelis and Palestinians to unending conflict, violence and warfare — not to mention a degradation of Israel’s commitment to Jewish and humanitarian values. The politics of despair thrives from the sense that there is no solution possible, that the region is condemned to unending strife, that we cannot do better and must give in to the most extreme voices — it’s a politics that Netanyahu has turned into an art form.

As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks wrote, “Optimism and hope are not the same. Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better. Optimism is a passive virtue, hope an active one. It needs no courage to be an optimist, but it takes a great deal of courage to hope.”

We believe to be Jewish is to not give in to despair. It takes great courage to have hope. Schumer articulated that politics of hope, and we thank him for giving voice to our values.

Gutow and Milgrom, both rabbis, are members of J Street’s Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet.