International News Opinons Politics

Bernie Sanders Goes to War Against Pro-Israel AIPAC, Accuses It of ‘Bigotry’

Linda Sarsour, center and Cornel West, right, listen as Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks in a roundtable discussion at the First Unitarian Congregational Society, Saturday, April 16, 2016, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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:


Top GOP group pumps $37M into fight on key issue dominating midterm races: ‘Much more to come’
Talarico says the divide is ‘top vs. bottom’ — then heads to one of America’s richest donor enclaves
Rubio gives Iran deal the silent treatment
How Brendan Carr’s attack on TV stations echoes FCC chairman under JFK
The wish to be like Wolfgang: Review of ‘Amadeus’
Minnesota AG Ellison lashes out when grilled on fraud scandal: ‘I’m done talking to you’
WATCH: Tuberville backs Trump’s Iran deal as Democrat blasts ‘surrender’
Israel ‘remains firmly committed’ to ceasefire but will continue occupation of southern Lebanon
News Outlet Caves to Democratic Senate Candidate, Kills Poll That Makes Her Look Bad
Watch: Angel Reese Shoves Caitlin Clark, Then Mocks Her as Long-Running Rivalry Is Renewed
Karmelo Anthony runs away after murdering Austin Metcalf: surveillance video
Michigan trio allegedly beat, strangled and gagged man at Las Vegas hotel to collect on gambling debts
Body found in South Carolina ID’d as missing fitness trainer who told friend she was ‘scared for her life’
Obama Snubs Trump from Presidential Center Opening, Then Subtly Attacks Him
North Carolina furniture manufacturer allegedly kills business partner hours after losing contract dispute

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.


Top GOP group pumps $37M into fight on key issue dominating midterm races: ‘Much more to come’
Talarico says the divide is ‘top vs. bottom’ — then heads to one of America’s richest donor enclaves
Rubio gives Iran deal the silent treatment
How Brendan Carr’s attack on TV stations echoes FCC chairman under JFK
The wish to be like Wolfgang: Review of ‘Amadeus’
Minnesota AG Ellison lashes out when grilled on fraud scandal: ‘I’m done talking to you’
WATCH: Tuberville backs Trump’s Iran deal as Democrat blasts ‘surrender’
Israel ‘remains firmly committed’ to ceasefire but will continue occupation of southern Lebanon
News Outlet Caves to Democratic Senate Candidate, Kills Poll That Makes Her Look Bad
Watch: Angel Reese Shoves Caitlin Clark, Then Mocks Her as Long-Running Rivalry Is Renewed
Karmelo Anthony runs away after murdering Austin Metcalf: surveillance video
Michigan trio allegedly beat, strangled and gagged man at Las Vegas hotel to collect on gambling debts
Body found in South Carolina ID’d as missing fitness trainer who told friend she was ‘scared for her life’
Obama Snubs Trump from Presidential Center Opening, Then Subtly Attacks Him
North Carolina furniture manufacturer allegedly kills business partner hours after losing contract dispute

By 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.

See also  PHOTOS: Best moments from Obama’s presidential center opening

Story cited here.

Share this article:
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter