Sanders: ‘I’m Pro-Israel In The Sense Of Israel’s Right To Exist’

The Jerusalem Post reports: Israel has a right to be protected by the United States, Bernie Sanders, a candidate in the primaries of the Democratic Party, said.

Sanders, who has spoken out in favor of Palestinian interests as well as Israel’s right to exist in security, made this assertion Sunday during an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“I am 100 percent pro-Israel in the sense of Israel’s right to exist,” Sanders said. “I lived in Israel, I have family in Israel, Israel has the right to live not only in peace and security, but to know that their very existence will be protected by the United States government,” Sanders said.

Last week, Sanders appointed three Israel critics, including Cornel West, who supports boycotts against Israel, to help draft the party’s platform ahead of the convention in Philadelphia. On “Meet the Press,” Sanders said his view is that the United States “has got to respect the needs of the Palestinian people. They cannot be pushed aside.”