Anti-Israel Lawmakers Get Sanders’ Stamp-of-Approval

Far-left lawmaker Bernie Sanders endorsed antisemitic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, in addition to Representative Andy Levin, who frequently criticizes Israel.

By United with Israel Staff

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders recently endorsed U.S. Rep. Andy Levin in his Michigan Democratic primary race against Rep. Haley Stevens.

Sanders also endorsed U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who is running in a primary in the 12th District, which covers Dearborn, Southfield and parts of Detroit, among other areas in Michigan.

While Tlaib has faced accusations of antisemitism throughout her career, Levin has promoted policies that critics say endanger the Jewish state’s security. Levin has also been accused of frequently criticizing Israel.

Most recently, Tlaib was linked to Palestinian activist Maher Abdel Qader, who pushes antisemitic conspiracy theories, claiming Jews are “satanic” and “practice subversion and treason,” according to a recent Fox report.

In May, Tlaib appeared at a “Nakba Day” rally alongside the publisher of the Arab American News, Osama Siblani, who “was not subtle at all in blessing the bloody, horrific axe murders, knifings, and shootings in Israel that have killed nearly 20 in the last few months,” reported The Algemeiner.

“Do you see what is happening in Palestine?” Siblani crowed at the event. “They are striking them with their knives and with their bare hands, and they are victorious.”

Tlaib reportedly stood idly by as Siblani incited the crowd with praise for Palestinian terrorists.

The Michigan lawmaker’s history of antisemitic rhetoric includes retweeting a post from Khaled Beydoun requesting donations to Baitulmaal, which has been accused of fundraising for Hamas and distributing aid to the “families of martyrs of the Palestinian people.” The group’s leader, Mazen Mokhtar, has also been accused of collaborating with other terrorist groups, such as the Taliban.

Tlaib has also hosted Abbas Hamideh, a pro-Hezbollah activist who compares Israelis to Nazis.

In addition to Tlaib, Sanders endorsed Levin last week, who has touted his cooperation with Tlaib and friendship with Ilhan Omar, another lawmaker with a history of antisemitic rhetoric and incitement.

The leading pro-Israel advocacy group in Washington, AIPAC, referred to Levin in January as “arguably the most corrosive member of Congress to the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

Levin has authored legislation that seeks to force Israel to withdraw from the Jewish people’s ancestral homeland, Judea and Samaria, an area anti-Israel activists refer to as the “West Bank” of Jordan.

“[Levin] frequently and one-sidedly criticizes Israel, defends and even fundraises for its worst detractors…and from his seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee authors and supports highly problematic legislation,” wrote David Victor, a former AIPAC president, in a January email to Detroit area donors.

In his endorsement of Levin, Sanders said the Michigan Democrat is “not afraid of taking on powerful special interests,” which may or may not have been an allusion to pro-Israel groups.