Schumer To Trump Supporters: Where’s The Outrage Over Embassy Waiver?

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By Nathan Guttman June 2, 2017

Pro-Israel activists, Jewish and non-Jewish, have been relatively quiet about President Trump’s decision to sign a waiver postponing the relocation of the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

And among those to notice this tempered response was Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

The New York Democrat took issue with those who were quick to criticize Obama when he refused to move the embassy, but are now taking a measured approach when Trump does the same.

“Will those who criticized President Obama for not moving the Embassy make their voices just as loud and just as strong when it comes to President Trump’s failure to move the Embassy?” Schumer asked. Schumer noted that he believes that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of Israel, and was therefore “deeply disappointed in President Trump’s decision.”

Who are those who blasted Obama but gave Trump a pass?

Schumer did not specify, but the list could include Israeli prime minister Netanyahu and his top cabinet members, Jewish-American organizations on the right, and Christian evangelical pro-Israel groups.

Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected] or on Twitter @nathanguttman

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

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