To his credit, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been on the right side of the debate over Israel ever since the deadly Hamas attacks more than a week ago. Of course, he’s traditionally been a supporter and is recognized as the highest-ranking Jewish member of Congress. But his current trip to view the conflict in person has really brought him fully onboard to the point where he is even willing to criticize members of his own party and parts of the public that might normally be in his camp. Perhaps the first-hand experience of being rushed into a bomb shelter while sirens are blaring and rockets are falling in your vicinity brings additional clarity of thought. In any event, Schumer came out and denounced all of the people who were protesting Israel’s actions and calling for a “ceasefire.” When he was asked specifically about AOC, he included her as well. (NY Post)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer denounced US protests against Israel’s retaliatory strikes on Gaza and the calls for a “ceasefire” from some of his fellow Democrats during an interview with The Post Sunday – as he and other lawmakers were forced into a Tel Aviv air raid shelter to wait out Hamas rockets.

The New York Democrat said he’d work to ensure that Israel has “everything they need” to “totally eliminate” the terrorist group from the Gaza Strip – adding that he feels “vindicated” in opposing former President Barack Obama’s release of money to Iran in light of Tehran’s aid to Hamas.

“If the threat of Hamas is not eliminated, they will do it again,” Schumer said when asked specifically about House Democrats — including New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — calling for a ceasefire following the terror group’s surprise attack on Israel.

Schumer and the other senators met with twelve families who had relatives taken hostage during the initial Hamas attacks. He recounted how all of the senators had tears in their eyes and said he wished that others could hear their stories and the anguish in their voices. He repeatedly referred to Hamas as “brutal.”

Sounding more like a Republican than a Democrat, Schumer also expressed confidence that Iran “will never see one penny” of the $6 billion in frozen funds that Joe Biden tried to give back to them as part of a prisoner exchange. He didn’t go so far as to claim there was proof that Iran planned the attack, but he said that doesn’t really matter because, “there would be no Hamas without Iran.” He also reminded everyone that he voted against the original Iran deal under Barack Obama.

Beyond that, Schumer met with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders, asking them what they needed. He has produced a list of supplies that need to be delivered to Israel “immediately.” These include more missiles for the Iron Dome and stockpiles of 155 mm shells. He assured them that the United States will “get them what they need.” Of course, we’re already desperately short of Howitzer ammunition because of Ukraine, but I imagine they’ll scrape some up from somewhere.

For the most part, I’ve typically questioned the usefulness of these congressional excursions, particularly into dangerous war zones or scenes of natural disasters. They almost always seem like little more than dog and pony shows designed to boost a politician’s profile. But I’ll make an exception in this case and reach across the aisle to congratulate Chuck Schumer for his efforts. He’s helping to tell the story of what’s really happening and warning against the dangers of complacency or allowing fatigue to diminish American support for Israel’s efforts. And he’s arranging deliveries of crucial war material specific to Israel’s needs. Far from being a waste of time, Schumer appears to truly be making a significant and productive contribution, even if I’m completely shocked to hear myself saying it.