Bernie Sanders: “I’m not a great fan” of Benjamin Netanyahu

[kpete]

TUESDAY, JUN 16, 2015 01:00 AM PDT
Bernie Sanders: “I’m 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 isn’t). 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 it’s 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 president’s office today giving it. I don’t 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 Obama’s 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 President’s back. And I think in that region sadly on both sides I don’t 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]

1. Heresy! HERESY!

[Orsino]

2. Mainly, it's not a diplomatic sound bite to offer up for free.

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]

3. Actually. I like it. He is honest. Netanyahu needs to realize a two state solution is required.

Maybe a little less kowtowing and coddling, and a little more of this?

[Orsino]

7. Yeah, as I've said before, I'm afraid Bernie hasn't learned how to lie.

That's likely to cost him.

[lame54]

8. or that's his niche...

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]

10. It may also be his greatest strength...

...considering the part it must have played in shaping his agenda.

But the MSM will make sure it costs him, too.

[daleanime]

13. They will do their best/worst....

[calimary]

19. So do I. This is actually something else that's good to see.

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]

25. Everyone in US politics privately hates Netanyahu and he should've been kicked to curb

A long, long time ago.

[tularetom]

4. No worries, I'm sure Sec Clinton will tell us how much she opposes Netanyahu as soon as she learns

all the facts about him.

[SusanCalvin]

5. Bernie speaks the truth (at least according to me) again.

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]

23. Exactly.

[newfie11]

6. Happy to hear that!

Bernie2016

[marble falls]

9. Sounds like an accurate, thoughtful and respectful opinion to me, where's the beef? Other than...

Bibi's?

[Exilednight]

11. I've never understood our "unwavering" support for

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]

12. They are a critical component in a popular money laundering scheme for US taxpayer funds

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]

15. I assume more goes to the defense industry through arms sales.

"Pentagon approves massive $1.9 billion arms sale to Israel"
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

"A previous package of precision guided missiles worth $647 million was sent by the US to Israel in December 2012, according to Defense News. That deal however contained smaller quantities of munitions.

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]

24. And they pay us back with our own money.

[Enthusiast]

14. I'm with you, Bernie! No fan of Netanyahu.

Or any other right wing war monger.

[frazzled]

16. This administration has been no fan of Netanyahu's

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]

17. Bernie comes right out and says it.

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]

26. And he did not say he was not a supporter of Israel. He said he is not a fan of Bibi. The people

over there know the difference.

[yellowwoodII]

18. Not so "bizarrely"

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]

20. I'm going to a Bernie fundraiser in LA this Saturday, private home...

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]

21. I'm not either

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 President’s back. And I think in that region sadly on both sides I don’t 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."

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. I know people who would claim this means he wants all Jews to die.