Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Rep. Mike Levin \u2014 one of California\u2019s few vulnerable Democratic House members \u2014 called for a change in Israeli leadership on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt appears to me that new leaders are needed,\u201d Levin said to a small group of reporters, adding that he thinks the current leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are not \u201cultimately leading to a more peaceful outcome\u201d in the region.<\/p>\n
Levin is endorsed by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, an influential pro-Israel group that has launched campaigns across the country to unseat elected officials calling for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war<\/a>. Levin is also the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee\u2019s only listed vulnerable \u201cfrontliner\u201d from California.<\/p>\n AIPAC declined to comment on Levin’s remarks.<\/p>\n The moderate Democrat represents a district in San Diego and Orange counties. He won election to a third term in 2022 with 52.6 percent of the vote. In 2024, he will face Republican Matt Gunderson, who has previously attacked Levin for not wholeheartedly backing Israel<\/a>. And the National Republican Congressional Committee has blasted Levin<\/a> on the issue. <\/p>\n Levin\u2019s comments come after Iran launched a missile attack on Israel<\/a> over the weekend \u2014 and as he faces pressure from protesters in his district<\/a> to call for an immediate and permanent cease-fire. <\/p>\n Back in March, Levin called for a temporary cease-fire<\/a> to allow humanitarian aid to get into Gaza, which he called \u201cimperative\u201d alongside providing military funds to Israel to defend itself against Hamas. He has supported a cease-fire in conjunction with the release of Israeli hostages.<\/p>\n “We need a leader in Israel who is committed to a two-state solution,\u201d Levin said on Thursday. \u201cOn the other side, Hamas cannot stay in power.\u201d<\/p>\n More Democrats have started to drift from their previous steadfast backing of Israel. Most notably, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer<\/a> faced backlash after criticizing Netanyahu\u2019s handling of the war in Gaza<\/a> and calling for new elections to replace the prime minister.<\/p>\n But Levin separated himself from Schumer\u2019s remarks, which he said could \u201cdiscourage\u201d current Israeli leaders\u2019 ability to call for a fair election. \u201cIt needs to be the decision of the Israeli people,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n