‘Strong Step’: Schumer Credits Trump’s Israel-Hamas Deal — But Says Two-State Solution Is Necessary ‘Second Part’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) acknowledged President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring peace to the Middle East, but warned that the hostage release was only the first step in the complicated process.
Schumer, during an interview with Al Sharpton on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation on Saturday, was asked what he thought about the cease fire deal that included the exchange of 48 Israeli hostages — 20 alive and 28 deceased — for 250 Palestinians. The senator gave the president some credit — but said more work was necessary to establish a longstanding peace.
“Well, what we know is very good,” Schumer began. “We’ve always said we need to do three things. I’ve been pushing for them — one, bring all the hostages home, and there are a lot of bodies there. We have two New Yorkers, [Omer] Neutra and Itay [Chen]. Who, we know they’re dead, but their families are mourning for their bodies to be home. Jewish law requires a decent burial. So, we want the hostages dead and alive, all to be returned, number one.”
Schumer continued:
Number two, we certainly want a ceasefire. A long lasting, strong ceasefire. And third, we need to get aid to the Gazan people who are suffering so under a huge humanitarian crisis. So, these are the three things that must be done.
This is a very, very good step — strong step — in that direction. But there’s more to be done, and particularly more to be done to make sure — first, we’ll have to make sure all these promises are kept, and people are saying they are. That’s good. But second, we got to make sure there’s a long-lasting peace in the Middle East, which means two states, a Palestinian state and a Jewish state living side-by-side in peace. And that’s the second part of this. That’s a big, big step that could make a huge difference.
Sharpton also gave the Trump administration credit for the progress.
“So far, we all salute what is happening,” Sharpton said.
Watch the clip above via MSNBC.
