Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has once again voiced his stern criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct in the Gaza conflict, labeling the Israeli response as “grossly disproportionate” and an action that amounts to “ethnic cleansing.” Senator Sanders, one of the most high-profile Jewish officeholders in the United States, has called for an end to U.S. financial and military support for Israel, emphasizing the tragic humanitarian toll of the Gaza war.
In a counter to Netanyahu’s recent video decrying campus protests in the U.S. as antisemitic, Sanders retorted with a video of his own. He asserted that Netanyahu is attempting “to deflect attention from that horrendous reality [of the Israel-Hamas war] to talk about antisemitism, to deflect away from what he is doing,” in Gaza. He criticized the actions in Gaza, highlighting the severe casualties, including the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of whom are women and children.
Sanders expressed his disagreement with Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who characterized campus protests as antisemitic and compared them to Charlottesville for Jewish students. Sanders countered, noting that the protests reflect widespread discontent with U.S. aid to what he describes as Netanyahu’s “war machine” for an “extremist government” in Israel, rather than a rise in antisemitism.
The Vermont senator also addressed the impact of the Gaza policy on young voters and the Democratic base, expressing concern over the potential political ramifications for President Joe Biden. While criticizing Biden’s position on Gaza, Sanders still acknowledged the president’s progressive strides in other areas.
On CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sanders emphasized that holding Netanyahu accountable is not a matter of antisemitism but a pressing need to address the humanitarian crisis and the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza. He agreed with Representative Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) that the fight against antisemitism must continue without conflating it with legitimate criticism of Israeli policies.
Sanders has urged that humanitarian aid be allowed into Gaza, lamenting the blockade and destruction of civilian infrastructure by the Israeli government, which he argues violates U.S. law. He has also pointed out the destruction of hospitals, schools, and housing, creating widespread homelessness and devastation.
In his criticism, Sanders has appealed to U.S. policy and international justice, suggesting that the country’s funding for Israel’s military efforts is at odds with American values and legal statutes. While acknowledging the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Sanders has emphasized that the scale and impact of the Israeli response in Gaza warrant serious reconsideration of U.S. support.
Relevant articles:
– Bernie Sanders says Netanyahu is attacking campus protests to deflect war criticism, npr.org, 04/29/2024
– Bernie Sanders blasts Netanyahu for “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, Salon, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 20:41:00 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 says there’s not ‘any doubt’ Netanyahu is perpetrating ‘ethnic cleansing’, The Hill, Sun, 28 Apr 2024 14:33:00 GMT