Bernie Sanders makes the case for Kamala Harris against pro-Palestinian critics

CNN
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Hopes for a change in US policy in Israel and Gaza, the fight against climate change, the fight for abortion rights – all of this, Senator Bernie Sanders said on Monday evening, would be dashed or defeated if Donald Trump wins re-election in November .

Since becoming the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris has been challenged by pro-Palestinian, anti-war activists to either publicly advocate conditioning military aid to Israel or at least signal that she would break with the robust support from President Joe Biden. for the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On Monday night, Sanders put himself among those critics when he made an impassioned plea for Harris in a video posted to social media.

“I understand that there are millions of Americans who disagree with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the terrible war in Gaza. I am one of them,” the Vermont independent said, speaking directly into the camera, before declaring again that “Israel had the right to defend itself from a horrific Hamas terrorist attack on October 7.”

Sanders was one of the first federal lawmakers to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, and while he moved more cautiously than many left-wing activists had hoped, he quickly emerged as one of Netanyahu’s most outspoken critics on Capitol Hill and a relentless advocate for a change in American policy. In September, he announced plans to introduce a Senate resolution blocking the sale of assault weapons to Israel.

“Some of you are saying, how can I vote for Kamala Harris if she supports this terrible war? And that is a very fair question,” Sanders said in the video, after talking about the bloody toll the conflict has taken on the Palestinians in Gaza.

Harris, who first called for a temporary ceasefire during a speech at the annual commemoration of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma, Alabama, in March, and who supports a two-state solution in the region, has been under pressure for months from activists who argue with her to break with Biden.

At a brief meeting three weeks ago in Flint, Michigan, a group of Arab-American advocates and leaders urged Harris, as Wa’el Alzayat, the CEO of the Muslim-American advocacy group Emgage Action, later told CNN, ” to show distance between how she would rule on this issue with the current policies of the government, which we do not agree with.”

While she often reiterates her desire to end the war, occasionally in response to protesters interrupting her campaign speeches, Harris has closely adhered to the Biden administration’s policies and talking points.

Sanders made the case for Harris and argued – in short – that she can be convinced.

“I promise you that after Kamala wins, together we will do everything we can to change American policy toward Netanyahu,” Sanders implored his viewers. “An immediate ceasefire, the return of all hostages, a wave of massive humanitarian aid, a halt to settler attacks in the West Bank and the reconstruction of Gaza for the Palestinian people.”

But before speaking about Harris, Sanders asked voters to consider their options — starting with Trump.

“Donald Trump and his right-wing friends are even worse,” Sanders said. “Trump has said Netanyahu is doing well and has said Biden is ‘holding him back’. He has suggested that the Gaza Strip could be a prime beachfront development area. And it is no wonder that Netanyahu prefers Donald Trump in power.”

In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on the first anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Trump mused about the real estate prospects in Gaza, which was home to roughly two million Palestinians before the war began.

“You know, as a developer, it could be the most beautiful place – the weather, the water, the whole thing, the climate,” Trump said. “It could be so beautiful.”

Gaza dominated the message, but Sanders also pointed to Trump’s opposition to abortion rights, support for additional tax cuts for the wealthy and refusal to answer directly when asked whether he supports an increase in the minimum wage.

“If Trump wins, the fight against climate change, quite frankly, is over,” Sanders said. “While virtually every scientist who has studied this issue understands that climate change is real and poses an existential threat to our country and the world, Trump believes it is a hoax.”

Sanders, released about 24 hours after the end of Trump’s controversial rally at Madison Square Garden, talks in the video about watching the event on television.

“We’ve been trying to fight bigotry (for years), but that’s exactly what we saw at that incredible Trump rally,” Sanders said, recalling the progressive fight against institutional bigotry.

“It wasn’t a matter of making speeches, coming out and disagreeing with Kamala Harris on the issues. That wasn’t the problem at all. They attacked her simply because she was a woman and a woman of color. Extremely vulgar sexism and racism.

“Is that,” Sanders asked, “really the kind of America we can allow?”