Independent Senator Sanders of Vermont, one of the leading Jewish figures in the US Senate, was a guest on CNN’s “State of the Union” program.
Asked about the anti-Semitic rhetoric during demonstrations in support of Palestine at US universities, Sanders emphasized that anti-Semitism must be opposed along with all kinds of hate crimes and Islamophobia.
Regarding the presenter’s persistent efforts to highlight the victimization of Jewish students at universities, Sander said that he is Jewish himself and that the focus should be on the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in Gaza.
“Most Americans are disgusted by Netanyahu’s war machine and oppose US support for it,” Sanders said, noting that Israel is systematically trying to destroy the health care system in Gaza and essentially all of Gaza.
“Displaced 80 percent of Gaza’s population”
Stating that Israel killed 5 percent of Gaza’s society in 6.5 months, a rate unprecedented in the history of modern warfare, he said, “Netanyahu must be held accountable for this.”
Sanders pointed out that the definition of genocide is made by the courts and said, “However, it is indisputable that Netanyahu has committed ethnic cleansing in Gaza. He has displaced 80 percent of Gaza’s population. Now he is threatening to attack Rafah, where people are taking refuge because it is safe. This is unacceptable.”
