By Michael Bielawski
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, stated yesterday the U.S. should withdraw financial support for Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swore off support for a Palestinian state after the war with Hamas.
Netanyahu says no to two states
“Despite the illegal and inhumane actions of Netanyahu’s government, President Biden has thus far offered unconditional support to Israel. That must change,” Sanders said. “President Biden must now loudly and clearly say NO to the policies of Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist government. That is what a true friend of Israel must do in this moment.”
Netanyahu said: “In any future arrangement… Israel needs security control of all territory west of the Jordan. …I told this truth to our friends, the Americans… the prime minister needs to be able to say no, even to our best friends.”
Currently, Palestinians have been granted the Gaza Strip and the West Bank of the Jordan River. These small land areas have prompted some pundits to call for a larger and formal Palestinian state, dubbed “the two-state solution.”
Sanders calls Israel’s actions “illegal and inhumane”
Sanders labeled Israel’s military response to the Hamas terror attacks in October which killed over 1,000 civilians as “illegal and inhumane.”
Netanyahu says a Palestinian state would become a launching ground for further attacks against Israel.
“This truth I tell to our American friends, and I put the brakes on the attempt to coerce us to a reality that would endanger the state of Israel,” he said.
The White House is supporting a two-state solution. Spokesperson John Kirby recently stated to reporters “there’s going to be a post-conflict Gaza,” he said, adding that Israel should not occupy lands that “represents the aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
Vermonters weigh in
Former Stowe Rep. Heidi Scheuermann has been outspoken on the conflict. She recently wrote on X in response to Sanders:
“Shame! This is not ‘Netanyahu’s war’ and it’s not ‘against the Palestinian people.’ You can disagree on Israeli public policy and how Netanyahu is governing but this war is against Hamas terrorists who murdered over 1200 civilians, raped and brutalized women, and kidnapped more.”
Rachel Feldman, the former chief of staff for Phil Scott when he was lieutenant governor, has also been outspoken on X as well. She posted recently about one of the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks.
“On the morning of October 7, Roni Polvanov, 23, was trying to help a sick friend escape,” she wrote. “Hamas shot him four times in the face. Hamas cheered. Hamas filmed it. It should surprise no one that cold-blooded murderers are also willing to lie.”
Vermont political commentator and former radio show host Dave Gram also weighed in. He suggested that continuing financial aid to Israel violates Constitutional law.
Gram wrote, “Bernie, You’re missing the 1A argument. Israel is based on God’s promise to Abraham; U.S. support on End Times prophecy. It’s all a religious project. 1A says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…” Aid to Israel violates 1A.’”
The author is a reporter for the Vermont Daily Chronicle