"Very senior" Israeli official accuses U.S. government of seeking to oust Netanyahu

By arseniotoledo // 2024-03-19

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A "very senior" Israeli official has accused the government of the United States of seeking to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This comes after the publication of a U.S. intelligence report that warned the viability of Netanyahu's government "may be in jeopardy" amid criticism over his management of the conflict in Gaza. Netanyahu is reportedly "fuming" over this report, and his government has interpreted it as the U.S. allegedly pushing through with plans to unseat Netanyahu. (Related: Only 15% of Israelis want Netanyahu to remain prime minister after the war.) "Those who elect the prime minister of Israel are the citizens of Israel and no one else," said the official in a statement issued to the media. "Israel is not a protectorate of the U.S. but an independent and democratic country whose citizens are the ones who elect the government. We expect our friends to act to overthrow the terror regime of Hamas and not the elected government in Israel." Israeli TV network Channel 12, which reported on this did not confirm who the statement came from but did say that it came from "the most senior Israeli political source you can imagine," indicating that Netanyahu himself may have been the source. In its assessment, the U.S. intelligence report indicated that distrust for Netanyahu's ability to lead the Israeli government "has deepened and broadened across the public from its already high levels before the war, and we expect large protests demanding his resignation and new elections." "A different, more moderate government is a possibility," added the report. This same intelligence report noted that Israel will likely be challenged by Hamas for years to come despite Netanyahu's insistence that its unrelenting campaign in Gaza will eradicate the terrorist organization in its entirety, with the prime minister himself repeating his vow of achieving "total victory" in this conflict. "Israel probably will face lingering armed resistance from Hamas for years to come, and the military will struggle to neutralize Hamas' underground infrastructure, which allows insurgents to hide, regain strength and surprise Israeli forces," the report stated. This report comes just days after Netanyahu told supporters of Israel gathered in Washington, D.C. that it will "finish the job" it started by attacking the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where over a million displaced Palestinians are sheltering. Netanyahu noted that none of the pressures Israel is facing "will stop us," adding that there is "no other option but total victory and that victory is within reach." "The overwhelming majority of the American people stand with us," he further claimed, ignoring data that shows a majority of eligible voters in the U.S. want the government to work toward an immediate ceasefire – including over half of American Jews.

Democrats support Netanyahu's ouster

Support for Israelis electing a different leader is also coming from elected officials. On Thursday, March 14, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) delivered a speech on the Senate floor strongly criticizing Netanyahu, calling him a major obstacle to peace in the Middle East and calling for new leadership in Israel. This speech comes as many other notable lawmakers have routinely condemned Netanyahu's leadership and the extremists in Israel's governing coalition. President Joe Biden himself has recently criticized Israel's offensive in Gaza as "over the top." But Schumer's speech is being regarded as one of the sharpest critiques yet of Israeli policy, and is also being seen by Israel as the U.S. attempting to influence Israelis to replace Netanyahu. "I believe in his heart, his highest priority is the security of Israel," said Schumer, who also happens to be the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the United States. "However, I also believe Prime Minister Netanyahu has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take precedence over the best interests of Israel." "He has been too willing to tolerate the civilian [death] toll in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel worldwide to historic lows," he continued. "Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah." While Schumer did temper his criticisms, claiming that Israel is being blamed too much for how Hamas allegedly uses Palestinian civilians as human shields, he also acknowledged how difficult it would be for Israelis living under a security state to contemplate the possibility of life right next to a stable Palestinian state at this time. "At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel, at a time when so many Israelis have lost their confidence in the vision and direction of their government," said Schumer, who believes that a majority of the Israeli public is interested in a different government. "As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders, and we should let the chips fall where they may," he added. "But the important thing is that Israelis are given a choice. There needs to be a fresh debate about the future of Israel after Oct. 7." Unless Netanyahu's governing coalition is prematurely dissolved, the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, isn't set to hold new elections until Oct. 27, 2026. Watch this episode of the "Health Ranger Report" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses the alleged U.S. plot to overthrow Netanyahu and occupy Gaza. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Democrats support Netanyahu's ouster

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