In a fierce response to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's recent Senate-floor condemnation of his government, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that it is inappropriate for the United States to interfere in another country's election process. Netanyahu's comments came during an interview on Sunday's State of the Union show.

Expressing his disagreement with Schumer's remarks, Netanyahu emphasized that it is not Schumer's place to attempt to replace the elected leadership of a sister democracy. He firmly stated, "That's something that Israel, the Israeli public does on its own, but we're not a banana republic."

Schumer, who holds the highest-ranking Jewish elected official position, strongly criticized Netanyahu's government over the high civilian death toll in Gaza and demanded that Israel hold new elections to address the country's response to Hamas and the Oct. 7 attack. Schumer's speech drew widespread shock among Democrats, particularly due to his previous support for Israel and Netanyahu.

Netanyahu countered Schumer's remarks by asserting that the majority of Israelis support his government's actions. He suggested that Schumer should focus on opposing and toppling Hamas instead. Netanyahu highlighted the significant threat posed by the terrorist organization, citing the numerous Israelis and Americans that have been killed or taken hostage by them.

Addressing Schumer's call for new elections, Netanyahu stated that such a move should only be considered once the war against Hamas is conclusively won. He argued that holding elections prematurely could result in a prolonged period of national paralysis, which would not only be detrimental to Israel but also to America.

A recent poll conducted in Israel revealed that a plurality of Israelis believe Netanyahu's approach to ceasefire negotiations is driven by political motives. However, the majority of respondents expressed support for key proposals made during negotiations, including a multi-week ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu's robust response serves to firmly establish his government's position on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the question of holding new elections. As tensions continue to rise, the international community closely watches the developments in the region, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis.