Exclusive: Israel's "indiscriminate bombing" is bad for U.S., Dem senator says
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Sen. Shaheen at Axios House. Screengrab via Axios.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) told Axios she worries about the message Israel's recent attack in Qatar and its string of strikes around the region send about Israel's biggest ally, the United States.
Why it matters: Shaheen sat down with Axios' Mike Allen after a meeting with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. She said he'd noted that Qatar hosts the biggest U.S. base in the region and was hosting the Hamas officials Israel targeted at Washington's request.
Friction point: Shaheen said the fact that one of America's closest allies bombed another top ally will lead others over the world to wonder whether "they have that to look forward to" next.
- "I share the frustration with the indiscriminate bombing that we're seeing from Israel. I think we would all agree that Israel should be able to defend itself, but the bombing into Qatar, into Syria, into southern Lebanon... is not in the long-term best interests" of Israel or those countries, she said.
Zoom out: Shaheen also raised concerns about Israel's conduct in Gaza and "failure to understand the concern in the international community about what's happening there."
- Asked if she would use the term "genocide," Shaheen said: "I don't care what you call it. The reality is that Palestinians are being bombed. They're being killed. Children are starving. They're on the verge of a famine, and we need to see more done to address that."
State of play: The interview took place at Axios House on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- Trump will host a summit on Tuesday on post-war planning for Gaza. He is virtually the only world leader still standing by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- Meanwhile, a string of countries, most recently France, have announced they will recognize Palestinian statehood.
Go deeper: U.S. and Israel against the world as Palestine dominates UN week
