Bernie Sanders addresses the college protests in the US against Israel’s war in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of condemning all forms of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and bigotry.
During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union,” Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, was asked about the impact of antisemitism on the pro-Palestine protests occurring on college campuses in the United States.
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Antisemitic incidents have been reported on university campuses following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in a tragic death toll of 1,200. In response to these troubling reports, Mr. Sanders expressed his strong condemnation of antisemitism, referring to it as a “vile and disgusting ideology” during an interview with CNN.
According to the speaker, the actions of Netanyahu’s right-wing, extremist, and racist government are currently unparalleled in the modern history of warfare.
“We must confront the harsh reality that there is a looming threat of mass starvation and famine in Gaza. It is important to acknowledge that when we raise such concerns, it is not an act of antisemitism, but rather a reflection of the dire situation on the ground.”
As the war rages on and Israeli attacks on Gaza persist, with the death toll of Palestinians exceeding 34,000, there has been a disturbing rise in incidents of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Arab hate across the country. Civil rights advocates have been documenting this alarming trend.
Pro-Palestine protests have spread across college campuses in a show of solidarity with Gaza amidst the ongoing attack. Students have organized demonstrations and set up encampments on campus lawns to raise awareness about the situation.
Amid rising tensions, numerous individuals, including students and professors, have been apprehended across various campuses. Additionally, law enforcement authorities have resorted to using forceful measures to suppress the protests.
Over 100 individuals at Columbia University have joined the protest encampments, urging the institution to sever its financial connections with Israel in response to the conflict in Gaza.
In a recently released video, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made a strong accusation against US college students who are protesting against the war in Gaza. He refers to these protestors as “antisemitic mobs” and goes as far as comparing them to the events that took place in German universities during the 1930s.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Sanders responded, refuting Netanyahu’s accusations of antisemitism.
“No, Mr. Netanyahu, it is not anti-Semitic or pro-Hamas to highlight the fact that your extremist government has caused the deaths of 34,000 Palestinians and injuries to over 77,000 individuals, with 70 percent of them being women and children, in just a little over six months. It is not an act of anti-Semitism to acknowledge that your airstrikes have resulted in the complete destruction of over 221,000 homes in Gaza, leaving more than one million people without shelter, which is nearly half of the population,” expressed Mr. Sanders.
In his appearance on the State of the Union on Sunday, the senator emphasized once again the urgency of addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He stressed the need to pay attention to the dire situation that is unfolding there.
“I want to make it clear that I am Jewish. My father’s family was tragically affected by Hitler’s actions. Antisemitism is an abhorrent and despicable form of prejudice that has resulted in the loss of millions of innocent lives,” expressed Mr. Sanders during a recent interview with CNN. “It is my sincere hope that every American unequivocally denounces antisemitism. In addition, we must also condemn Islamophobia and all other manifestations of bigotry.”
In his statement on Thursday, Mr. Sanders accused Netanyahu of trying to divert attention from the immoral and illegal war policies of his extremist and racist government.
He stated that holding someone accountable for their actions is not an act of antisemitism.
Several US universities, including Yale, Columbia University, New York University, University of Southern California, and the University of Texas, Austin, have witnessed protests.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson paid a visit to Columbia on Wednesday. During his visit, he labeled all the campus pro-Palestine protests happening across the nation as “antisemitic” and demanded the resignation of the university’s president. However, his remarks were met with a chorus of boos and chants from the crowd.
