Staff Reports
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is at it again with his problematic views on Israel. However, during his recent appearance on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” he surprisingly made a valid point about the impossibility of a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, who openly declares their desire to destroy Israel. Kudos to Sanders for recognizing the reality of the situation.
Even Bernie Sanders Doesn't Think There Should Be a Ceasefire https://t.co/VixMs7PYjI
— Lois Levine Fishman (@FishmanLevine) December 12, 2023
While many of his fellow leftists demand a ceasefire, Sanders understands that it takes two to tango. Hamas has repeatedly broken previous ceasefires and continues to terrorize innocent people, including taking hostages. It’s clear that a ceasefire would only benefit Hamas and allow them to regroup and plan their next attack.
But of course, Sanders still supports temporary pauses in the fighting, despite knowing that Hamas will likely not honor them. One can’t help but wonder if he genuinely believes that these pauses will somehow lead to a lasting peace, or if he just wants to appear “reasonable” in the eyes of his far-left base.
On another note, Secretary of State Antony Blinken also stood firm against the UN resolution for a ceasefire, rightly pointing out that Hamas holds the key to ending the conflict. If they were to lay down their weapons and surrender, the war would be over. But no, the UN continues to demonstrate its biased stance against Israel, conveniently overlooking Hamas’ reign of terror.
It’s refreshing to see Republican lawmakers like Reps. Chip Roy and Mike Rogers, along with Sen. Mike Lee, take action against the UN by introducing legislation to defund the organization. It’s time to hold them accountable for their anti-Israel and Hamas-sympathetic actions.
Let’s not forget Sanders’ past actions, such as allowing Rep. Rashida Tlaib to hold an event referring to Israel’s founding as a “catastrophe” in the Senate committee room. It’s no surprise that Sanders still harbors criticism towards Israel, particularly under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership. But calling for the United States to withhold aid to Israel is both misguided and dangerous. Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East, and abandoning them would only embolden their enemies.
Meanwhile, Congress is caught up in a political battle over aid packages for Israel and Ukraine. Republicans rightfully want to tie the provision of aid to both countries as a way to address the crisis at our southern border. However, it seems unlikely that Senate Democrats will budge on this issue.
In the end, Sanders may occasionally stumble into sensible territory, but the majority of his views on Israel remain problematic and out of touch. It’s essential to support leaders who understand the reality of the situation and stand firmly with our ally in the Middle East.
