The Bernie SandersBernie SandersFive takeaways from a fiery Sanders-Clinton clash in Brooklyn Clinton, Sanders appear to skip post-debate handshake Sanders: Clinton getting “nervous” MORE campaign suspended its Jewish outreach coordinator after reports surfaced she had posted vulgarities about Israel’s prime minister on Facebook, the New York Times reports.
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The initial decision to hire Zimmerman came after Sanders recently inflated the number of Palestinian civilian deaths in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war at least sevenfold – to 10,000 – in an interview with the New York Daily News.
The conservative Washington Free Beacon published snapshots of comments she had written on her Facebook in March 2015 that led the Sanders campaign to suspend her ” while we investigate the matter”, reported the New York Times.
In the post, Zimmerman wrote “F*** you Bibi”, referring to Netanyahu’s nickname, and described the Israeli leader as “arrogant, deceptive, cynical” and “manipulative”.
In a statement, the Office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon did not authorize any new construction, but rather that “almost all permits are for upgrading existing structures”. Zimmerman edited the post at a later date, replacing “asshole” with “politician” and “Fuck you” with “shame on you”. “There comes a time when we pursue justice and peace that we will have to say Netanyahu is not right all the time“.
Former Anti-Defamation League head Abe Foxman called earlier Thursday for the Sanders campaign to fire Zimmerman, and Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, issued a statement asking the Sanders campaign to end its relationship with the activist.
According to the radio station, the official said that Israel has audio messages from Hamas claiming the group has no interest in an escalation of violence, although the source added that Hamas continues to deploy fighters and build its military wing.
Sanders also attacked rival Hillary Clinton, accusing her of neglecting the Palestinians during her speech to AIPAC, the biggest and strongest pro-Israel lobby in the United States.
She depicted Sanders as a dilettante. “I call on Senator Sanders to clarify his own positions and whether this hire reflects his views on Israel”.
This, then, is the face of “Jewish outreach” for the Sanders campaign: avowed anti-Zionism and views considered extreme even by many Jews on the left.
“If the criterion of allegiance is cemented in the Israeli legal system, many Palestinians will lose their residency”, he said, claiming that if legalized by an Israeli Supreme Court ruling, the policy would affect thousands of Jerusalemites who should not be expected to feel loyal to Israel.
Clinton, by comparison to Sanders, was staunchly supportive and defensive of Israel in the debate.
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In Thursday night’s debate, though, Mr. Sanders advocated a critical discussion of Israel that, while popular with his young liberal base, was unlikely to please the Jewish establishment figures who had sought to hold a common line on Israel in Democratic politics.
