Speaker Johnson criticizes Schumer calling for Israel to hold elections: 'highly inappropriate'

House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for calling on Israel to hold elections because of his disapproval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the Israel-Hamas war. 

“We want to speak very clearly and concisely to say that this is not only highly inappropriate, it’s just plain wrong for an American leader to play such a divisive role in Israeli politics while our closest ally in the region is in an existential battle for its very survival,” Johnson said during a press conference, according to The Hill. 

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., accused Schumer of attempting to interfere in Israel's elections, calling it dangerous. 

"Nobody expects Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the things that must be done to break the cycle of violence, preserve Israel's credibility on the world stage," Schumer said in a speech Thursday on the Senate floor.

During his speech, he made clear that new leadership is needed. 

Schumer also said that elections are the "only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel," according to Axios.

He also took a shot at Netanyahu during his speech, stating he "has lost his way by allowing his political survival to take the precedence over the best interests of Israel," according to The Hill.