Incoming Democratic Sen. Leader Schumer: Kerry May Have ‘Emboldened Extremists on Both Sides’

Senator Chuck Schumer, who will be taking over as Senate Minority Leader when the new Congress is sworn in, released a statement critical of John Kerry‘s speech on Israel earlier today.

There have been some Democrats like Schumer speaking out to criticize the Obama administration following the U.S. abstention at the U.N. Security Council vote last week. Schumer himself said beforehand “an abstention is not enough” and expressed his disappointment following the vote:

Please see my statement urging the Administration to veto the resolution being voted on today by the @UN. pic.twitter.com/RzAvw6i7oY

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 23, 2016

Extremely frustrating, disappointing & confounding that the Administration has failed to veto the UN resolution.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 23, 2016

Strong words from Chuck Schumer: Administration's actions "will move us further from peace in the Middle East."

— Michael Wilner (@mawilner) December 23, 2016

Kerry’s speech today––one that was critical of Israel and got a lot of blowback––did not do much to assuage his concerns. Schumer sent out a statement earlier tonight expressing his fear that Kerry has “emboldened extremists on both sides”:

Sen Schumer (D-NY) stmt: "I fear Secretary Kerry, in his speech and action at the UN, has emboldened extremists on both sides.​” –> pic.twitter.com/dhsG5WBOz4

— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) December 28, 2016

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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