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:
Mentalist Oz Pearlman to skip Kimmel appearance after Trump dinner shooting
Wisconsin teacher placed on leave after social media post advocating to ‘make Americans great assassins again’
Mamdani and King Charles to attend 9/11 ceremony in New York City: What to know
After Karoline Leavitt Calls Out Dems for Their Vile Anti-Trump Rhetoric, GOP Brings the Receipts
Newsom’s wife lashes out at Trump after he rips ’60 Minutes’ host: ‘Internalized misogyny’
Mamdani’s education plan’s ‘lack of merit’ could fundamentally change student outcomes: GOP leader warns
‘Hell Week’ in Washington: A look at House Republicans’ current bind, and how we got here
DOJ Moves Against White House Ballroom Lawsuit in Wake of Shooting: ‘Enough Is Enough’
Pastor known for marriage advice arrested at rumored swingers community accused of having multiple wives
Newsom taunts Trump with multiple jabs as Florida redistricting fight ramps up: ‘Beat at his own game’
Watch: Bubba Wallace Sparks NASCAR Mega-Crash That Sweeps Up the Majority of the Field
Injured Secret Service agent fired five shots at Cole during Trump assassination attempt
Trump Calls for Jimmy Kimmel to Be ‘Immediately Fired by ABC and Disney’ After ‘Beyond the Pale’ Melania Stunt
Charles goes to Washington: King visits Trump with ‘special relationship’ at a low
Watch: Democratic Congressman Appears to Blame Trump for Repeat Assassination Attempts
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.
Mentalist Oz Pearlman to skip Kimmel appearance after Trump dinner shooting
Wisconsin teacher placed on leave after social media post advocating to ‘make Americans great assassins again’
Mamdani and King Charles to attend 9/11 ceremony in New York City: What to know
After Karoline Leavitt Calls Out Dems for Their Vile Anti-Trump Rhetoric, GOP Brings the Receipts
Newsom’s wife lashes out at Trump after he rips ’60 Minutes’ host: ‘Internalized misogyny’
Mamdani’s education plan’s ‘lack of merit’ could fundamentally change student outcomes: GOP leader warns
‘Hell Week’ in Washington: A look at House Republicans’ current bind, and how we got here
DOJ Moves Against White House Ballroom Lawsuit in Wake of Shooting: ‘Enough Is Enough’
Pastor known for marriage advice arrested at rumored swingers community accused of having multiple wives
Newsom taunts Trump with multiple jabs as Florida redistricting fight ramps up: ‘Beat at his own game’
Watch: Bubba Wallace Sparks NASCAR Mega-Crash That Sweeps Up the Majority of the Field
Injured Secret Service agent fired five shots at Cole during Trump assassination attempt
Trump Calls for Jimmy Kimmel to Be ‘Immediately Fired by ABC and Disney’ After ‘Beyond the Pale’ Melania Stunt
Charles goes to Washington: King visits Trump with ‘special relationship’ at a low
Watch: Democratic Congressman Appears to Blame Trump for Repeat Assassination AttemptsBy 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.
