In a pointed response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks on antisemitism, Senator Bernie Sanders has vehemently refuted the suggestion that condemnation of Israel’s military actions and policies in Gaza equates to antisemitism. The progressive Senator from Vermont, who is Jewish, has asserted that holding Netanyahu’s government to account for its “extremist and racist” actions is not only justified but necessary.
Sanders’ rebuttal comes after Netanyahu’s claims that recent protests at U.S. universities against Israel’s military offensive in Gaza were driven by antisemitic sentiment. The Prime Minister likened the atmosphere on college campuses to the rise of Nazism in 1930s Germany, a comparison that Sanders and many others have strongly criticized as an inappropriate deflection from the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the actions of Israel’s government.
Sanders, in a video posted online, called out the Prime Minister for attempting to “insult the intelligence of the American people” by using accusations of antisemitism to distract from the widespread criticism of the policies of his government. “No, Mr. Netanyahu, it is not antisemitic or pro-Hamas to point out that, in a little over six months, your extremist government has killed over 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 78,000, 70% of whom are women and children,” Sanders stated.
The Senator’s impassioned speech also highlighted the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including the obliteration of housing units that have left more than one million people homeless, the decimation of the healthcare system, and the barring of humanitarian aid—actions that he labeled as “immoral and illegal.”
In confronting Netanyahu’s narrative, Sanders made clear that “antisemitism is a vile and disgusting form of bigotry” and should not be conflated with legitimate criticisms of state policies. The Senator underscored that the actions of the Israeli government are subject to scrutiny, just as any other nation’s would be, and that accountability is crucial.
Facing significant opposition, including pressure to restrict or condition aid to Israel, the Biden administration has expressed frustration over Israel’s resistance to allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza and has criticized the recent strikes that resulted in civilian casualties.
Relevant articles:
– Sanders hits back at Netanyahu: ‘It is not antisemitic to hold you accountable’, theguardian.com, 04/28/2024
– Bernie Sanders Unleashes Fiery Comeback To Netanyahu’s Antisemitism Remarks, HuffPost, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 18:45:38 GMT
– Bernie Sanders: No, Mr. Netanyahu, It’s Not Anti-Semitic To Criticize The Israeli Government’s War – OpEd, Eurasia Review, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 22:29:20 GMT
– Sanders Sharply Rebukes Netanyahu’s Claim That Campus Protests Are Antisemitic, Truthout, Thu, 25 Apr 2024 20:50:21 GMT