In a recent interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Sen. Bernie Sanders expressed his concern to President Biden about the potential consequences of his support for Israel.
Sanders warned that Biden's stance on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine could lead to a political downfall, akin to Lyndon Johnson's decision not to run for re-election in 1968 due to his unpopular views on the Vietnam War.
Sanders, who himself is Jewish, spoke out against the weaponization of the term anti-Semitism in the current political climate. He stated that it is dangerous to label anyone who criticizes Israel's actions as anti-Semitic, as it curtails freedom of expression. He also echoed the sentiment of Kenneth Stern, who has warned against the overuse of the term, saying that it may lose its significance and impact.
The Democratic senator expressed concern for the direction of American foreign policy under President Biden's leadership. He touched upon the issue of how Biden's stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict may affect his re-election campaign and the support of the Democratic base. Sanders pointed out that the majority of young people and Democrats do not support Biden's views on Israel and the ongoing war, and the president's stance could potentially alienate this key demographic.
BERNIE SANDERS: "This may be Biden's Vietnam" pic.twitter.com/rQaOjaIv8h
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 3, 2024
Regarding Biden's campaign, Sanders referenced Lyndon Johnson, who chose not to run for re-election in 1968 due to opposition to his views on the Vietnam War. Despite his accomplishments in domestic policies, the unpopularity of his stance on the conflict led to his decision not to seek a second term. Sanders warned that Biden may face a similar fate if he does not reassess his support for Israel and Netanyahu's actions.
Sanders urged President Biden to stop providing a "blank check" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He called for a policy shift and a more critical approach to Israel's actions, both from a moral and political standpoint. Sanders referred to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a "war" and stated that the current U.S. support for Israel is not helpful and may even be harmful.
The interview took place against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine. The U.N. has stated that at least 248 Palestinians have been killed, including 66 children, and more than 1,900 others have been wounded in the ongoing conflict. On the other side, 12 people have been reported killed in Israel, including two children and over 300 others have been injured.
The conflict has received global media attention, with many international leaders and organizations calling for an immediate ceasefire. While President Biden has publicly expressed his support for a ceasefire, the U.S. has blocked a joint statement from the U.N. Security Council three times that would have called for an end to the violence.