Unbelievably, Mishpacha magazine featured a round table discussion which included an "Orthodox Jew" who is a hard line supporter of Bernie Sanders for President. I saw that someone [who just happens to write for Mishpacha] lauded them for not being monolithic and featuring alternative voices.
I found the article repugnant.
Mishpacha would not feature someone who is a proponent of eating pork. Or even of talking in shul. Or anything that is against Halacha - even on a rabbinical level. Bernie Sanders is a danger to the State of Israel and thus to the Jewish people as a whole. That is MUCH WORSE than talking during davening or any specific sin. His supporters should not be given a platform in the religious press. So shame on Mishpacha for giving a voice to his supporter who is trying to win voters over for him.
That Sanders is dangerous is not my personal opinion but, essentially, HIS opinion.
Let's hear it from the horses mouth [not that he is a horse...] - from "Virtual Jewish Library":
In 2001, Sanders was the only Jewish member of the House who disagreed with a resolution blaming all of the violence of the Second Intifada on Palestinian terrorism. Sanders was one of 45 representatives in 2004 who voted against a resolution expressing support for Israel’s security fence after it was deemed illegal by the International Court of Justice. Sanders was one of 21 U.S. Senators who did not sign onto a resolution espousing unconditional solidarity with Israel during 2014’s Gaza War.
An interview was uncovered from 1990 in the Haaretz newspaper archive, in which he said he would like to see the United States press Israel harder on the Palestinian issue
During an interview with the editorial board of the New York Daily News in early April 2016, Bernie Sanders stated his recollection stands that Israel killed “over 10,000 innocent people” in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge. The CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblat, issued a statement following the interview’s publication in which he asserted that “even the highest number of casualties claimed by Palestinian sources that include Hamas members engaged in attacking Israel is five times less than the number cited by Bernie Sanders.”
In 2017, Peter Beinart took Sanders to task for scheduling a major foreign policy address on the first day of Rosh Hashanah. In 2015, he also spoke on Rosh Hashanah, “ironically enough,” Beinart noted, on “religion and public life, at Liberty University, an institution founded by Jerry Falwell.” In 2016, Beinart noted, Sanders “spent Yom Kippur at the White House meeting Pope Francis and talking about it on CNN.” As a contender for the presidency, “flaunting his disrespect for his own religious tradition isn’t smart,” Beinart concluded
“It is not antisemitism to say that the Netanyahu government has been racist. It is a fact.” (J Street Conference, October 28, 2019)
He spoke to the left wing pro Arab radical J-Street group but refused to speak at the strongly Pro Israel AIPAC conference because he considers them bigots.
“I will do everything in my power, and I hope that every member of Congress will fight not only anti-Semitism, but racism and anti-Muslim activity so that we create a non-discriminatory society. But it is not antisemitic to be critical of a right wing government in Israel. That is not anti-Semitic.” (Fox News Town Hall, April 15, 2019)
Asked about his defense of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s anti-Semitic remarks, Sanders said: “I think that Ilhan has got to do, maybe, a better job in speaking to the Jewish community.” (Fox News Town Hall, April 15, 2019)
“While I do not support the BDS movement, we must defend every American’s constitutional right to engage in political activity. It is clear to me that this bill would violate Americans’ First Amendment rights.” (JTA, February 8, 2019) This was his reason for being one of the 22 Democrats who voted against the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 (76 senators voted aye) a bill that authorizes state and local governments to demand that contractors declare they do not support boycotts of Israel or its settlements in the West Bank. (JTA, February 7, 2019)
Brennan: “Do you see a political cost in taking on the pro-Israel lobby in this way (referring to Sanders saying AIPAC gives a platform to bigotry)?”
Sanders: “Yeah, I do. I mean, they have a lot of money. They have a lot of power. Look, I'm Jewish and I'm very proud of my Jewish heritage. As a kid, I spent time in Israel. I am not in- anti-Israel. I will do everything I can to protect the independence and the security and the freedom of the Israeli people. But what we need in this country is a foreign policy that not only protects Israel but deals with the suffering of the Palestinian people as well. You've got 70 percent youth unemployment in Gaza. People can't even leave that district, that area, major, major crises. It is not sustainable that we continued conflict in the Middle East until the United States develops an even-handed policy.... So, I am pro-Israel. I am pro-Palestinian. I want to bring people together to finally achieve peace in that region.” (“Face the Nation,” March 1, 2020)
Garrett: “If elected, Senator Sanders, you would be America’s first Jewish president. You recently called a very prominent, well-known American Israel lobby a platform for, quote, “bigotry.” What would you say to American Jews who might be concerned you’re not, from their perspective, supportive enough of Israel? And specifically, sir, would you move the U.S. embassy back to Tel Aviv?”
Sanders: “I am very proud of being Jewish. I actually lived in Israel for some months. But what I happen to believe is that, right now, sadly, tragically, in Israel, through Bibi Netanyahu, you have a reactionary racist who is now running that country. And I happen to believe that what our foreign policy in the Mideast should be about is absolutely protecting the independence and security of Israel, but you cannot ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people.
We have got to have a policy that reaches out to the Palestinians and the Americans. And in answer to your question, that will come within the context of bringing nations together in the Mideast.” (Democratic Debate, February 25, 2020)
“The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference. As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region.” (@BernieSanders, February 23, 2020)
“We need a foreign policy in this country, we need a Mideast policy which absolutely protects the integrity and the independence and safety of Israel, but also understands that the Palestinian people have needs and they have got to be treated with respect and dignity. And that is not the case right now. So that is my view. We will treat all people with respect and dignity.” (JewishInsider, February 5, 2020)
Following the release of the Trump administration’s peace plan, Sanders tweeted: “It must end the Israeli occupation and enable Palestinian self-determination in an independent state of their own alongside a secure Israel. Trump’s so-called ‘peace deal’ doesn’t come close, and will only perpetuate the conflict. It is unacceptable.” (@SenSanders, January 28, 2020)
Speaking during the fifth Democratic debate Sanders said, “Israel has — and I say this as somebody who lived in Israel as a kid, proudly Jewish – Israel has the right to exist, not only to exist but to exist in peace and security. But what US foreign policy must be about is not just being pro-Israel. We must be pro-Palestinian as well.”
“We must understand that right now in Israel we have leadership under Netanyahu, who has recently, as you know, been indicted for bribery, who, in my view, is a racist. What we need is a level playing field in terms of the Middle East, which addresses the terrible crisis in Gaza, where 60 percent or 70% of the young people are unemployed.” (Times of Israel, December 20, 2019)
The New York Times asked each candidate a series of questions related to Israel. Sanders said military aid to Israel should be “conditioned on Israel taking steps to end the occupation and move toward a peace agreement.” He believes, “American taxpayers shouldn’t be supporting policies that undermine our values and interests, in Israel or anywhere. That’s why, when Bernie is president, he will use every tool at his disposal, including the conditioning of military aid, to create consequences for moves (such as settlements or annexation) that undermine the chances for peace.” He added, “The U.S. gives a lot of aid to both Israel and the Palestinians, and it's totally appropriate to withhold that aid when they do things we don’t like.”
Sanders said the U.S. embassy should not be moved from Jerusalem “as a first step.” However, he added, “it would be on the table if Israel continues to take steps, such as settlement expansion, expulsions and home demolitions, that undermine the chances for a peace agreement.”
“The right of refugees to return to their homes after the cessation of hostilities is an internationally recognized right, but this issue will be negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians as part of a peace agreement.”
He supports the establishment of a Palestinian state that includes West Bank land as demarcated by pre-1967 borders “if the settlement issue is negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians.”
“Bernie is a strong supporter of the right of Israel to exist in independence, peace and security. But he also believes that the United States needs to engage in an even-handed approach toward that longstanding conflict, which results in ending the Israeli occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to have independence and self-determination in a sovereign, independent, economically viable state of their own.”
“The parameters of a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are well known….two states based on the 1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states. Ultimately, it’s up to the Palestinians and Israelis themselves to make the choices necessary for a final agreement, but the United States has a major role to play in brokering that agreement.”
“When we are in the White House, we will restore funds to UNRWA….Bernie will call upon Israel to end policies that violate international humanitarian law, such as home demolitions and settlement construction in the occupied territories, and work to ensure that U.S. aid is not used to support these activities. Bernie will also continue to condemn violence against civilians by all sides.” (New York Times, December 2019)
“It is no longer good enough for us simply to be pro-Israel. I am pro-Israel. But we must treat the Palestinian people as well with the respect and dignity that they deserve. What is going on in Gaza right now, where youth unemployment is 70 percent or 80 percent, is unsustainable. So we need to be rethinking who our allies are around the world, work with the United Nations, and not continue to support brutal dictatorships.” (Democratic debate transcript, November 20, 2019)
Responding to the Trump administration’s announcement that it does not consider settlements illegal, Sanders said, “Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal. This is clear from international law and multiple United Nations resolutions. Once again, Mr. Trump is isolating the United States and undermining diplomacy by pandering to his extremist base.” (Times of Israel, November 19, 2019)
“I have a connection to Israel going back many years. In 1963, I lived on a kibbutz near Haifa. It was there that I saw and experienced for myself many of the progressive values upon which Israel was founded. I think it is very important for everyone, but particularly for progressives, to acknowledge the enormous achievement of establishing a democratic homeland for the Jewish people after centuries of displacement and persecution.”
“We must also be honest about this: The founding of Israel is understood by another people in the land of Palestine as the cause of their painful displacement. And just as Palestinians should recognize the just claims of Israeli Jews, supporters of Israel must understand why Palestinians view Israel’s creation as they do. Acknowledging these realities does not ‘delegitimize’ Israel any more than acknowledging the sober facts of America’s own founding delegitimizes the United States. It is a necessary step of truth and reconciliation in order to address the inequalities that continue to exist in our respective societies.”
“When I look at the Middle East, I see Israel as having the capacity to contribute to peace and prosperity for the entire region, yet unable to achieve this in part because of its unresolved conflict with the Palestinians. And I see a Palestinian people yearning to make their contribution—and with so much to offer—yet crushed underneath a military occupation now over a half-century old, creating a daily reality of pain, humiliation, and resentment.”
“Ending that occupation and enabling the Palestinians to have self-determination in an independent, democratic, economically viable state of their own is in the best interests of the United States, Israel, the Palestinians, and the region. My pride and admiration for Israel lives alongside my support for Palestinian freedom and independence. I reject the notion that there is any contradiction there.” (Jewish Currents, November 11, 2019)
“I would use the leverage, $3.8 billion is a lot of money and we cannot give it carte blanche to the Israeli government, or any government....If you want military aid, you’re going to have to fundamentally change our relationship with the people of Gaza. In fact, I think it is fair to say that some of that $3.8 billion should go right now to humanitarian aid in Gaza.” (J Street Conference, October 28, 2019)
“All that I have ever said on this issue [the Israeli-Palestinian conflict], is that U.S. foreign policy should be even-handed. That’s all — even-handed…. We respect Israel. Israel has every right to live in peace and security, but so do the Palestinian people. And as somebody who is proudly Jewish, to be critical of a right-wing Netanyahu government in Israel is not to be anti-Semitic…. The United States government gives a whole lot of money to Israel and I think we can leverage that money to end some of the racism that we have recently seen in Israel.” (Times of Israel, August 14, 2019).
Bernie Sanders said in an interview on the Pod Save America podcast that he would “absolutely” consider using U.S. aid to Israel to pressure the Israeli government on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. “I lived in Israel. Actually, I worked in a kibbutz for a number of months. I have family in Israel. I am Jewish. I am not anti-Israel,” Sanders said. “I believe that the people of Israel have absolutely the right to live in peace, independence and security. End of discussion — that is what I fervently believe. But I think what has happened is in recent years under Netanyahu, you have an extreme right-wing government with many racist tendencies.” (Pod Save America, July 26, 2019)
Axios asked candidates if they would move the U.S. embassy back to Tel Aviv, Sanders refused to comment despite having criticized Trump’s decision to move the embassy to Jerusalem, saying that the move would “dramatically undermine the prospects for an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, and severely, perhaps irreparably, damage the United States’ ability to broker that peace.” (Axios, July 14, 2019)
“The United States of America is pouring billions of dollars into arms and into other types of aid in the Middle East. Has the United States of America used its clout, the tremendous clout that it has by providing all kinds of aid to the Middle East, to demand that these countries sit down and talk about a reasonable settlement which will guarantee Israel’s sovereignty, which must be guaranteed, but will begin to deal with the rights of Palestinian refugees.” (Alternet, July 2, 2015)
“A Zionist? What does that mean? Want to define what the word is? Do I think Israel has the right to exist? Yeah, I do. Do I believe that the United States should be playing an even-handed role in terms of its dealings with the Palestinian community in Israel? Absolutely I do. Again, I think that you have volatile regions in the world, the Middle East is one of them, and the United States has got to work with other countries around the world to fight for Israel’s security and existence at the same time as we fight for a Palestinian state where the people in that country can enjoy a decent standard of living, which is certainly not the case right now. My long-term hope is that instead of pouring so much military aid into Israel, into Egypt, we can provide more economic aid to help improve the standard of living of the people in that area.” (Haaretz, August 18, 2015)
“I have a problem with appropriating $2 billion dollars to Egypt and $3 billion dollars to Israel. Let’s take care of some of the problems we have at home first.” (House Floor, 1991)
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Trump is no perfect Tzadik. But Sanders is a mortal danger to the existence of the Jewish people. No less. Anybody who thinks that the Jews and Arabs are equally guilty for the lack of peace in the Middle East is either blind, insane or an Anti-Semite or all three. If the Arabs would truly want peace it would happen TODAY. We want peace but can't have it because of all of our blood thirsty enemies. Sanders seems to think that the Arabs are a poor, suffering oppressed people, who are victims of the evil policies of a racist, bigoted Israeli government. He will cut off financial aid to Israel in order to advance his crazy agenda. He is blind to the fact [or ignores it] that millions and millions of Arabs openly profess that they will not rest until the Jewish people [even deserters like Bernie] are wiped off the face of the planet.
Hashem Yishmor.
עוצו עצה ותופר דברו דבר ולא יקום כי עמנו א-ל!!!
