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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBernie Sanders: “I’m not a great fan” of Benjamin Netanyahu
TUESDAY, JUN 16, 2015 01:00 AM PDT
Bernie Sanders: Im not a great fan of Benjamin Netanyahu
The Vermont senator is the lone presidential candidate to voice his displeasure with the Israeli
Earlier this week, NPR host Diane Rehm bizarrely asked Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who is competing for the Democratic nomination for the presidency, whether he is an Israeli-American dual citizen (he isnt). What was less noticed was the dialogue between Rehm and Sanders afterward, where they discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Sanders went on to explain his views on Netanyahu:
REHM: Tell me your feeling about whether there should be a two-state solution should Palestine be given statehood?
SANDERS: Absolutely. What you have in that part of the world is an unspeakable tragedy. And it seems like its never-ending and it seems like it every year gets worse and worse and more killing and more bombings and everything else. And again, Diane, if I had the magical solution to that problem I would be in the presidents office today giving it. I dont have it. But clearly the goals are two-fold: number one the Palestinian people, in my view, deserve a state of their own, they deserve an economy of their own, they deserve economic support from the people of this country. And Israel needs to be able to live in security without terrorist attacks. Those are the goals of I think any sensible foreign policy in that region.
REHM: How do you believe President Obamas relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu has affected our relationship with Israel?
SANDERS: Well, I gotta tell you, I am not a great fan of President Netanyahu I did not attend the speech that he gave before the joint session of Congress. I think it was opportunistic. I think he was using it as part of his campaign for re-election. I think he was being used or did use the Republicans to go behind the Presidents back. And I think in that region sadly on both sides I dont think we have the kind of leadership that we need. And so you know I think the President is trying to do the best that he can in enormously difficult circumstances.
http://www.salon.com/2015/06/16/bernie_sanders_im_not_a_great_fan_of_benjamin_netanyahu_partner/
DetlefK
(16,423 posts)Orsino
(37,428 posts)Curb thy tongue, Senator. You could have said much the same thing in other words.
Our next president will need to work with Netanyahu.
peacebird
(14,195 posts)Maybe a little less kowtowing and coddling, and a little more of this?
Orsino
(37,428 posts)That's likely to cost him.
lame54
(35,502 posts)one that many have been waiting for
Bernie's doing great and I hope he doesn't listen to all the monday morning quarterbacks
Orsino
(37,428 posts)...considering the part it must have played in shaping his agenda.
But the MSM will make sure it costs him, too.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)calimary
(82,039 posts)Netanyahu needs to be put in his place a little more often.
Good to know he didn't attend that shameful showboating Bibi was allowed to do in Congress awhile back.
Report1212
(661 posts)A long, long time ago.
tularetom
(23,664 posts)all the facts about him.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Whether it was a good idea I will leave to others, but those could have been my very words. Congress should not have offered and Netanyahu should not have accepted.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)newfie11
(8,159 posts)Bernie2016
marble falls
(58,866 posts)Bibi's?
Exilednight
(9,359 posts)Israel. I have no problem supporting Israel as an ally, but we treat them as if they can do no wrong.
They flaunt their nuclear capacity without owning up to it, they have repeatedly broken their "no new settlements" pledge and often provoke the Palestenians and then cry "we're just defending ourselves!"
At what point does someone hold them accountable and help them live up to their promises?
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)Give a few billion in taxpayer funds to Israel, and in return, they will funnel a healthy portion of those funds back to US legislators through the largest lobbying group in DC, AIPAC.
Seems like a pretty good deal to me if you're a legislator going to DC to become wealthy and connected. Scuttling that lucrative merry-go-round is not very likely.
Alkene
(752 posts)US says thousands of missiles and bombs to be provided for self-defense needs; Congress must okay deal
May 20th, 2015
The Times of Israel
Israel receives $3 billion per year in US military aid, most of which must be spent on American-made arms."
http://www.timesofisrael.com/pentagon-approves-massive-1-9-billion-arms-sale-to-israel/
jwirr
(39,215 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Or any other right wing war monger.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)and has openly opposed and criticized him on many occasions (see, e.g., http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/19/world/middleeast/netanyahu-obama-israel-election.html?_r=0). The administration has been very clear that they're no fan of Netanyahu's.
Not caring for Netanyahu is the easy part... really, a no brainer. The question is how you deal with a head of state whose policies you're no fan of. That is the question to be answered by any presidential candidate. And it's not an easy one. I'm sure Bernie would agree with me on that one. I look forward to all the candidates discussing this in a future debate.
chev52
(71 posts)Finally, a candidate who states his positions rather than say things like, 'I'm for growing jobs', or, 'We can build a great future for our children'.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)over there know the difference.
yellowwoodII
(616 posts)I heard the broadcast. If you listen to Diane Rehm's statement in context, you will hear that she was clearly making a "leading" statement in order to give Sanders an opportunity to speak about Netanyahu and the two-state solution. It's a subject that I'd like to hear addressed by any political candidate. He answered masterfully, and I was happy to hear his answer.
Diane is one of the best interviewers I've ever heard. She doesn't deserve such criticism for making a factual mistake which was quickly cleared up.
radhika
(1,008 posts)Lots of the attendees are from LA's active Progressive community. Many of them are Jewish, but with a peace perspective and they stand in opposition to settlements and current Likud-nik policies. AIPAC is not beloved.
As popular as Bernie is in our circles, I know - for sure - he will be pressed on this aspect of his views.
turbinetree
(24,793 posts)and Sanders comment sums it nicely:
"SANDERS: Well, I gotta tell you, I am not a great fan of President Netanyahu I did not attend the speech that he gave before the joint session of Congress. I think it was opportunistic. I think he was using it as part of his campaign for re-election. I think he was being used or did use the Republicans to go behind the Presidents back. And I think in that region sadly on both sides I dont think we have the kind of leadership that we need. And so you know I think the President is trying to do the best that he can in enormously difficult circumstances."