Bernie Sanders slams Israel’s ‘intolerant authoritarian’ leaders — and links them to rise of white supremacy

Bernie Sanders described Israeli political leaders as “intolerant” and “authoritarian” and linked them to the rise of white supremacy and antisemitism around the world, in a speech two nights ago.

The senator spoke on October 28 at a livestreamed commemoration of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre two years ago, held by the progressive Jewish organization Bend the Arc.

Sanders began by saying antisemitism is not an abstract threat to him; his father left Poland in 1921 in part because of antisemitism, and “those in his family who remained in Poland after Hitler came to power were murdered by the Nazis.”

I know very well where white supremacy leads and what can happen when people do not speak up about it.

Today we see the rise of a very dangerous political ideology that targets Jews, that targets blacks, that targets Latinos, that targets the gay community, that targets religious minorities, anyone who does not fit the dangerous vision of white supremacy. We have to be clear that while antisemitism is a threat to Jews everywhere, it is also a threat to democratic governance itself, all over the world.

In Russia, in India, in Brazil, in Hungary, in Israel and elsewhere, we see this rise of a divisive and destructive form of politics. We see intolerant, authoritarian political leaders attacking the very foundations of democratic societies. These leaders exploit people’s fears by amplifying resentments, stoking intolerance and inciting hatred against ethnic and religious minorities, fanning hostility toward democratic norms and a free press, and promoting constant paranoia about foreign plots.

They don’t just hate Jews, they hate the idea of multiracial democracy. They hate the idea of political equality. They hate immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ people, women, and anyone else who stands in the way of their bigotry and racist ideology.

I say this with no joy in my heart, but we Jews understand the danger better than most. But we also have a tradition that points the way forward. I am a proud member of the tradition of Jewish social justice. And I am so inspired when I see so many Jewish people picking up this banner, especially the younger generation, who are helping to lead a revival of progressive values in our country. They see the fight against antisemitism as connected to the fight against bigotry and oppression not only in our own country but throughout the world.

Sanders was surely referring to Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he called racist during the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination race. Israel is founded on an ideology of greater political rights for Jews. Only Jews have the right of “self-determination” in the country under a basic law, and they have higher land rights. Segregation and discrimination against Palestinians are principles enshrined by leading institutions.

The American Jewish Committee, a leading organization of the Israel lobby in the U.S., yesterday called on Sanders to eat his words.

to link Israel to white supremacy in any way shape or form is patently false. To do so at an event commemorating the slaying of Jews in Pittsburgh is nothing less than offensive. We ask you to apologize and clarify immediately.

The text cited by the AJC was an incorrect version of Sanders’s remarks published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that inverted the order of his statements. J Street’s Dylan Williams defended Sanders: “AJC’s claim is false on its face and the proof is the very text they cite. They should delete this immediately.”