‘It is not anti-Semitic…’: Bernie Sanders blasts Benjamin Netanyahu
Bernie Sanders, United States Senator and a Jew himself, in a hard hitting rebuttal criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for calling anti-Semitic those standing with Palestinians and protesting against the Zionist war in Gaza.
[File: Ben Cawthra / Sipa via AP Images]
Washington: Bernie Sanders, United States Senator and a Jew himself, in a hard hitting rebuttal criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for calling anti-Semitic those standing with Palestinians and protesting against the Zionist war in Gaza.
In a little over two minute video message posted on his official X handle, Bernie Sanders – the longest serving senator from Vermont in United States, Bernie Sanders repeatedly called Netanyahu of running an “extremist government”.
In a point by point rebuttal, Sanders said without mincing words “it is not anti-semitic” to point out the Israeli brutality in Gaza and destruction of the besieged enclave by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
“No, Mr Netanyahu. It is not anti-Semitic or pro-Hamas to point out that in a little over six months, your extremist government has killed 34,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 78,000 – 70% of whom are women and children”, Sanders said.
Giving numbers and statistics, Sanders also took Netanyahu to task for destroying the basic, health care and educational infrastructure in Gaza, saying the large scale destruction of the Palestinian territory can’t be overlooked by the allegations of anti-semitism.
“It is not anti-Semitic to point out that your bombing has completely destroyed more than 221,000 housing units in Gaza, leaving more than a million people homeless – almost half the population.
“It is not anti-Semitic to note that your government has obliterated Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, electricity, water and sewage.
“It is not anti-Semitic to realize that your government has annihilated Gaza’s health care system, knocking 26 hospitals out of service and killing more than 400 health care workers.”
“It is not anti-Semitic to condemn your government’s destruction of all Gaza’ 12 universities and 56 of its schools, with hundreds more damaged, leaving 625,000 students with no educational opportunities”, Sanders said.
Bernie Sanders, who is representing Vermont since 2007 as Independent and was also one of the Democratic nominees for US Presidential Elections in 2016 and 2020, also accused the Netanyahu government of violating the U.S. law by blocking humanitarian aid into Gaza.
“It is not anti-Semitic to agree with virtually every humanitarian organisation in saying that your government, in violation of American law, has unreasonable blocked humanitarian aid coming into Gaza, creating the conditions in which so many thousands of children face malnutrition and famine”, Sanders said.
Sanders also called Israeli war in Gaza “immoral” and “illegal”. He said by painting those criticising Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza as anti-semitic, Netanyahu is trying to distract the Americans.
“Mr. Netanyahu, anti-Semitism is a vile and disgusting from of bigotry that has done unspeakable harm to millions of people.
“But please do not insult the intelligence of the American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal war policies of your extremist government”, he said.
Sanders also accused Netanyahu of using anti-semitism to deflect the attention from the corruption and other charges he is facing in Israeli courts.
“Don not use anti-Semitism to deflect attention from the criminal indictment you are facing in the Israeli courts.”
“It is not antisemitic to hold you accountable for your actions”, he said.
Bernie Sanders parents were Polish-Jewish immigrants. He has been associated with a number of peace and antiwar movements. His Gaza message posted on X has been viewed by close to 6 million people in four days.
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Mr. Netanyahu, antisemitism is a vile and disgusting form of bigotry that has done unspeakable harm to millions.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 25, 2024
Do not insult the intelligence of the American people by attempting to distract us from the immoral and illegal war policies of your extremist and racist government. pic.twitter.com/CnM6oOrHKd
Gaza Now
Latest news from Gaza revealed the continued suffering of the Palestinians due to the Israeli blockade and bombing by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
As per the latest reports, Netanyahu is also planning to invade Rafah despite international opposition.
Meanwhile, UN Chief Antonio Guterres has warned that an Israeli assault on Rafah would be an “unbearable escalation” that would be “devastating” for Palestinians in Gaza and the wider region.
“The simplest truth is that a ground operation in Rafah will be nothing short of a tragedy beyond words. No humanitarian plan can counter that,” says Martin Griffiths, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.
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