‘Not Another Nickel!’ Bernie Sanders Demands U.S. Cut Off Netanyahu and His ‘Extremist’ Government Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) joined CNN’s Christiane Amanpour this week and argued for the U.S. to cut off funding to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until he agrees to improve conditions in Gaza.
“Christiane, we are looking right now in Gaza at one of the worst humanitarian disasters in the modern history of the world,” Sanders fumed, adding:
As you indicated right now, hundreds of thousands of people face starvation. Our children are dying from malnutrition. 80% of the population has been displaced. Over half the buildings have been damaged or destroyed. And Israel continues to make it difficult to get the kind of humanitarian aid in that desperate people need. So, to my mind, the most important thing the United States government can do is say to Mr. Netanyahu, you know what? You cannot continue this disastrous, horrific war.
You cannot allow children by the thousands to face starvation. Well, you’re not getting another nickel. Now, I think one of the incongruities that a lot of people in America see is everybody is criticizing Netanyahu, and then they’re saying in the next word, oh, here, Mr. Netanyahu, here’s a little 14 billion on top of the 3.5 billion you got. You’re a terrible guy. You’re doing terrible things. But here’s your money. I think our policy has got to be very clear. Not another nickel for Netanyahu’s right-wing extremist government. While hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza face starvation, period.
“Senator, can I ask you, when you say not another nickel, do you actually mean actual aid money, or do you mean the American weapons that are not nickels and dimes? They are actual bombs and artillery and ammunition,” Amanpour followed up.
“Absolutely, the idea that we have supplied and are continuing to supply 2,000-pound bombs, which could wipe out an entire block and other military aid, is unacceptable,” replied Sanders, adding:
Look, there is a terrible war going on which violates international law. In fact, it is violating American law. Let me tell you how. Foreign Assistance Act is very, very clear that if a country blocks American humanitarian aid, no more funds for that country. Israel has blocked American humanitarian aid. So what I am saying right now, talk is cheap, but we cannot be critical of Netanyahu and his right-wing extremist and at the same time give them money and weapons to continue this terrible war. That’s where the leverage is. I suspect that President Biden is beginning to use that leverage in his discussions with Netanyahu.
Watch the full clip above.
