Bernie Sanders is pictured within the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on April three in Washington, D.C. Sanders accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of utilizing claims of antisemitism as a deflection of criticism of the war.
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Bernie Sanders is pictured within the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on April three in Washington, D.C. Sanders accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of utilizing claims of antisemitism as a deflection of criticism of the war.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is some of the high-profile Jewish officeholders within the United States. He’s additionally emerged as one of many fiercest critics of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Sanders has urged the U.S. to finish monetary and navy help for Israel.
After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video on Wednesday criticizing ongoing campus protests throughout the U.S. as antisemitic, Sanders responded with a video of his own, straight refuting the prime minister’s assertion.
In an interview with All Things Considered, the impartial lawmaker mentioned he felt the necessity to reply as a result of Netanyahu, in his thoughts, has tried “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.
“In my view, and I think the view of most Americans now, Israel’s response has been grossly disproportionate,” Sanders advised NPR’s Scott Detrow. “Gaza has 2.2 million people, mostly very poor Palestinians. And over the last six months, 33,000 people have been killed, 77,000 have been wounded, two thirds of whom are women and children.”
This interview has been frivolously edited for size and readability.
In response to critics who argue that the extreme faculty protests are linked to a broader wave of rising antisemitism
Look, antisemitism has at all times existed. It exists at present. And you are proper, it is getting worse. Islamophobia is getting worse. And we’re residing at a time when bigotry is on the rise. And I hope that every one of us condemn all types of bigotry, together with antisemitism.
But to counsel that when you may have a major majority of the American individuals who, amongst different issues, don’t need to help extra U.S. navy help to Netanyahu’s war machine, we’re not going to counsel that every one of these individuals are antisemitic.
The overwhelming majority of the people who find themselves protesting, who really feel strongly about this situation, don’t like Hamas. They perceive Hamas is a terrorist group and they don’t seem to be antisemitic. They are disgusted by what is happening in Gaza proper now, which — amongst different issues, is not solely, to my thoughts, immoral — it is clearly unlawful. It is breaking U.S. legislation. We shouldn’t be funding Netanyahu’s war machine.
In response to Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, who posted on social media, “These ‘protests’ are antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous. Add some tiki torches and it’s Charlottesville for these Jewish students.”
I strongly disagree with Sen. Fetterman. Again, are there antisemites on this nation and on campus and at these protests? Absolutely. But I feel the overwhelming majority of people who find themselves protesting — and this is not simply faculty college students — ballot after ballot exhibits that the American individuals are sick and uninterested in funding a war machine for a right-wing extremist authorities in Israel proper now that is doing unprecedented hurt, I imply, simply disastrous hurt to the folks in Gaza and to their whole lifestyle.
You know, folks discuss concerning the day after, what occurs when this war ends. There’s not going to be a lot left in Gaza. Five % of the inhabitants of Gaza, two-thirds of whom are ladies and youngsters, have been killed or wounded. That is what I feel is upsetting the American folks, and clearly all of us ought to condemn any type of antisemitism or pro-Hamas exercise.
On how involved he is that the deep anger concerning the president’s coverage on the war in Gaza amongst younger voters may preserve Biden from profitable the election
I’m very involved. I imply, I feel not solely is supporting Netanyahu’s right-wing and racist authorities horrible coverage, I feel it’s extremely dangerous politics. And I feel you are going to see not simply younger folks, not simply folks of colour, however as you talked about, a major a part of the Democratic base, very, very upset concerning the position the Democrats and the president are taking part in on this entire course of.
But however, what I additionally imagine is that given the selection between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the selection is very clear and the American folks will perceive that. And that is you may have a president who, for the primary time in American historical past, Biden, walked the picket line in protection of staff; [is] sturdy on local weather change. [Biden] understands, in contrast to Trump, that it is ladies who should management their very own our bodies, not native politicians. Who is understanding that local weather change is actual and has put more cash into combating local weather change than any president in historical past.
So whereas I and I feel many tens of millions of individuals are upset about Biden’s place on Gaza and the war there, I feel when push comes to shove, younger folks and the American folks perceive that there is a really clear and historic distinction between the 2 they usually’re going to vote for Biden.
On if any strain from the administration will work so long as the U.S. is nonetheless offering funding and navy help to Israel
I feel we must always do every thing that we are able to. And actually, there was some enchancment in humanitarian help entering into Gaza, in all probability due to the president placing strain on Netanyahu. But on the finish of the day, you already know, you may criticize Netanyahu on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. And then on Thursday when you give him $10 billion in unfettered navy help, I feel everyone is aware of what the story is.