Bernie Sanders hits back at Netanyahu over antisemitism claims — RT World News
The US senator insisted that it is not “anti-Semitic” to criticize Israeli government policies
US Senator Bernie Sanders responded to statements made by the Israeli Prime Minister, that pro-Palestinian protests on American universities have been overtaken by anti-Semitism on a scale similar to the rise of Nazism in Germany.
US police arrested more than 80 demonstrators on Wednesday in a crackdown on pro-Palestine demonstrations that took place on dozens of universities across the country. The students demand that Washington stop all funding for the Israeli army “Stop giving them more money to continue this genocide.” In reference to the ongoing Israeli attack on Hamas fighters in Gaza.
In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, Sanders, the progressive senator from Vermont — who is Jewish — accused Netanyahu of insulting Netanyahu. “The intelligence of the American people” Using anti-Semitism to divert attention from his policies “An extremist and racist government” In the military attack on Gaza.
Mr. Netanyahu, anti-Semitism is a vile and disgusting form of intolerance that has caused untold harm to millions. Do not insult the intelligence of the American people by trying to distract us from your government's extremist, racist, immoral and illegal war policies. pic.twitter.com/CnM6oOrHKd
-Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 25, 2024
“No, Mr. Netanyahu, it is not anti-Semitic or pro-Hamas to point out that in just over six months, your extremist government has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured more than 78,000.” Sanders said, stressing that 70% of these are women and children.
The US Senator also stated that it is 'Not anti-Semitic' To point out that the Israeli bombing led to the complete destruction of more than 221,000 housing units in Gaza, leaving more than a million people homeless, and obliterating the civilian infrastructure in Gaza.
Sanders also noted that Netanyahu's government had unreasonably blocked humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza, causing “Thousands of children [to] Facing malnutrition and famine.”
“Mr. Netanyahu, anti-Semitism is a vile and disgusting form of intolerance that has caused untold harm to millions of people.” Sanders said at the conclusion of his two-and-a-half-minute speech. “But please, do not insult the intelligence of the American people by trying to distract us from the immoral and illegal policies of your extremist and racist government. …It is not anti-Semitic to hold you accountable for your actions.”
Sanders' comments came a day after a video statement issued by Netanyahu, in which the prime minister waded into the issue of protests sweeping American college campuses, claiming not enough was being done to combat… “shocking” Rising anti-Semitism.
“Anti-Semitic mobs take over leading universities” Netanyahu claimed. “They are calling for the annihilation of Israel. They are attacking Jewish students. They are attacking Jewish faculty. This is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s. The Prime Minister stated and urged this “It has to be stopped.”
A wave of demonstrations followed Israel's ongoing retaliatory bombing of Gaza, following the October 7 Hamas attack. The Israeli attack caused unprecedented destruction in the Gaza Strip and left more than 34,000 dead, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
