US Senate Majority leader Schumer refused to shake Netanyahu’s hand during speech due to ‘serious disagreements,’ he says

Relations between the two have been strained under the Biden administration

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After pictures and video from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's joint session speech to U.S. Congress last week showed U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) refusing to shake Netanyahu’s hand, Schumer on Sunday explained the reason.

He noted his disagreement was with Netanyahu, and not with Israel.

“I went to this speech because the relationship between Israel and America is ironclad and I wanted to show that,” Schumer told Robert Costa on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” when asked why he refrained from shaking the Israeli leader's hand.

“But at the same time, as everyone knows, I have serious disagreements with the way Benjamin Netanyahu has conducted these policies.”

Footage from Netanyahu’s speech showed the two leaders exchanging head nods instead of a handshake as Netanyahu entered the chamber.

Greeting between Prime Minister Netanyahu abd Sen. Chuck Schumer. pic.twitter.com/oH3LAnlT38
— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) July 24, 2024

Netanyahu’s speech appeared to be well received by those in attendance, with multiple standing ovations. However, it was also marked by the prominent refusal to attend by several well-known Democratic senators and representatives.

Relations between Netanyahu and Schumer have been under strain during the Biden administration.

In March, Schumer even called for new elections in Israel, saying Netanyahu had “lost his way.”

At that time, the New York senator stated: “As a lifelong supporter of Israel, it has become clear to me: The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7. The world has changed – radically – since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past.”

“Netanyahu has lost his way, putting himself in coalition with far-right extremists like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir,” the senator continued.

Netanyahu responded to Schumer’s March comments, calling them “totally inappropriate.”

However, later that month, Schumer indicated he would support an invitation to Netanyahu to address a joint Congress session.

When asked to respond to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who refused to attend the speech and called it “by far the worst presentation of any foreign dignitary invited and honored with the privilege of addressing the Congress of the United States,” Schumer restated his support for Israel.

“As I’ve said, I wanted to show our ironclad commitment to Israel that transcends any one prime minister or any one president,” he said. “No matter how much you might disagree with that prime minister.”