Biden says Schumer gave 'good speech' in calling for Israel election, saying Netanyahu an 'obstacle'

President Joe Biden on Friday backed a speech a day earlier by Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer in which he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu is an "obstacle to peace" in his country's war against Hamas and called to new elections in Israel. 

“He made a good speech, and I think he expressed serious concern shared not only by him, but by many Americans,” Biden said, according to The Hill.

Schumer, the highest elected Jewish lawmaker in the country, on Thursday said elections are the "only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel."

His remarks resulted in backlash. 

"What I heard coming from Senator Schumer was contempt [and] disrespect not just of our democracy, but our sovereignty, which is very incompatible in relations between any allies," Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren said on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show.

House Speaker Mike Johnson called Schumer's remarks "highly inappropriate."