Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) denounced the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Sunday evening, accusing the pro-Israel organization of promoting “bigotry.”
It was not clear what he meant, and he did not specify any examples of what he was talking about.
Only one Democratic candidate for president — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has since dropped out of the race — attended AIPAC’s annual conference last year, which many observers interpreted as a sign of the anti-Israel drift of the party.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), a Sanders surrogate, specifically singled out AIPAC last year when she made the antisemitic claim that members of Congress were being paid off to support Israel.
Sanders posted the following in a Twitter thread on Sunday:
3 brothers of Iraqi descent arrested in Oslo for allegedly ‘terror bombing’ of US Embassy
Republican Sen. John Cornyn Calls on GOP to Change Filibuster and Pass SAVE Act as He Prepares for Primary Runoff Against Ken Paxton
Conquered: NYC Firefighters Angry After Bosses, Muslim Firefighters Make Startling Change to 9/11 Memorial Area for Ramadan
Wife of former Gov Terry McAuliffe jumps into crowded Dem congressional primary race
Hawley introduces bill to strip FDA approval from ‘inherently dangerous’ abortion pill
Gene Simmons tells celebrities ‘shut the f*** up’ about politics
Developing: FBI Took Terabytes of Arizona Election Data After Reviewing ‘Alarming’ Report Citing Opened Pallets Full of Blank Ballots
Starmer was warned about ‘reputational risk’ of Peter Mandelson’s Epstein ties, files show
Foreign-backed group serves as bridge between GOP and Russia-friendly Europeans
Trump ally Clay Fuller advances in Georgia fight for MTG’s former seat
DOJ leader swats back DNC election security suit, mocks demands as kid’s ‘tooth fairy’ wish list
Thune Signals SAVE Act Is Dead in the Senate – If You Skip Voting in Primaries, You Own a Share of the Blame
Former Kentucky cheerleader indicted on manslaughter charge after newborn son found dead in closet
Sheriff running Nancy Guthrie case responds after report reveals unseemly exit from first policing job
Three cargo ships damaged by ‘projectiles’ in Strait of Hormuz
The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference.
As president, I will support the right of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region.
AIPAC responded with a tweet and a statement of its own:
Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment. In fact, many of his own Senate and House Democratic colleagues and leaders speak from our platform to the over 18,000 Americans from widely diverse backgrounds — Democrats, Republicans, Jews, Christians, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, progressives, Veterans, students, members of the LGBTQ+ community — who participate in the conference to proclaim their support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.
3 brothers of Iraqi descent arrested in Oslo for allegedly ‘terror bombing’ of US Embassy
Republican Sen. John Cornyn Calls on GOP to Change Filibuster and Pass SAVE Act as He Prepares for Primary Runoff Against Ken Paxton
Conquered: NYC Firefighters Angry After Bosses, Muslim Firefighters Make Startling Change to 9/11 Memorial Area for Ramadan
Wife of former Gov Terry McAuliffe jumps into crowded Dem congressional primary race
Hawley introduces bill to strip FDA approval from ‘inherently dangerous’ abortion pill
Gene Simmons tells celebrities ‘shut the f*** up’ about politics
Developing: FBI Took Terabytes of Arizona Election Data After Reviewing ‘Alarming’ Report Citing Opened Pallets Full of Blank Ballots
Starmer was warned about ‘reputational risk’ of Peter Mandelson’s Epstein ties, files show
Foreign-backed group serves as bridge between GOP and Russia-friendly Europeans
Trump ally Clay Fuller advances in Georgia fight for MTG’s former seat
DOJ leader swats back DNC election security suit, mocks demands as kid’s ‘tooth fairy’ wish list
Thune Signals SAVE Act Is Dead in the Senate – If You Skip Voting in Primaries, You Own a Share of the Blame
Former Kentucky cheerleader indicted on manslaughter charge after newborn son found dead in closet
Sheriff running Nancy Guthrie case responds after report reveals unseemly exit from first policing job
Three cargo ships damaged by ‘projectiles’ in Strait of HormuzBy engaging in such an odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event, Senator Sanders is insulting his very own colleagues and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel. Truly shameful.
This year’s AIPAC conference is scheduled for the first few days of March.
Story cited here.
