“We are not a banana republic.” Angry Israeli responses to the statements of a senior American lawmaker

US Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as having "become an obstacle to peace," and the Likud Party was quick to respond to Schumer's statements by saying that Israel is "not a banana republic."

The Israeli Likud Party, the party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rejected the call of the leader of the Democratic majority in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, to hold "new elections" in Israel.

The party said Thursday in a statement that Israel is “not a banana republic” and that Netanyahu’s policy enjoys broad public support.

He added, "Contrary to Schumer's words, the Israeli public supports the clear victory over Hamas, rejects any international dictate to establish a terrorist Palestinian state, and opposes the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza," according to the statement.

The party noted, "Senator Schumer is expected to respect the elected government of Israel and not undermine it."

On Thursday, Democratic Majority Leader in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, called for “new elections” in Israel, considering that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might make the Hebrew state a “pariah” in light of the war in Gaza.

In a speech before the Senate on Thursday, Schumer expressed his belief that “new elections are the only way to pave the way for a sound and open decision-making process regarding the future of Israel, at a time when many Israelis have lost confidence in their government’s vision and management.”

He pointed out that "a coalition led by Netanyahu no longer meets Israel's needs after October 7," and added that "Netanyahu has lost his way and is a major obstacle to peace," and continued: "Israel cannot withstand if it becomes an outcast."

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in US history, added that Netanyahu has surrounded himself with right-wing extremists and "has shown too much willingness to tolerate civilian casualties in Gaza, which is pushing support for Israel around the world to historic lows."

The US State Department quickly responded to Schumer's statements in a statement in which it indicated that those statements calling for elections in Israel were only "Schumer's statements and did not come from the Biden administration."

The statement stressed that "the US Congress is an independent institution."

"What's worse is that he does it on purpose."

For his part, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid commented on Schumer's criticism of Netanyahu. Lapid said in a post on the

He considered that "what is worse is that he is doing it on purpose."

He continued: "Netanyahu is causing grave harm to the national effort to win the war (on the Gaza Strip) and preserve Israel's security."