AUSTIN, TX – FEBRUARY 23: Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a campaign rally at Vic Mathias Shores Park on February 23, 2020 in Austin, Texas. With early voting underway in Texas, Sanders is holding four rallies in the delegate-rich state this weekend before traveling on to South Carolina. Texas holds their primary on Super Tuesday March 3rd, along with over a dozen other states. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced via Twitter on Feb. 23 that he will not attend the upcoming American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. on March 1-3.
Sanders tweeted: “The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason, I will not attend their conference.”
In a follow-up tweet, he pledged to “do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region.”
The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security. So do the Palestinian people. I remain concerned about the platform AIPAC provides for leaders who express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights. For that reason I will not attend their conference. 1/2
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 23, 2020
As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region. 2/2
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 23, 2020
During a Feb. 5 town hall in New Hampshire Sanders said that he didn’t think he would attend the AIPAC conference but he had “no objection to going.”
The progressive Jewish group IfNotNow, which has been pressuring the Democratic presidential candidates to boycott the conference, praised Sanders’ decision in a tweet.
“Thank you Bernie for choosing to #SkipAIPAC!” they wrote. “We are grateful for your commitment to freedom and dignity for all Palestinians and Israelis.”
Thank you Bernie for choosing to #SkipAIPAC! We are grateful for your commitment to freedom and dignity for all Palestinians and Israelis.
To keep up the momentum, sign our petition demanding the other Democratic candidates join Bernie and #SkipAIPAC https://t.co/ptXyCI3nD4
— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) February 23, 2020
AIPAC released a statement following Sanders’ tweet saying, “Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment. In fact, many of his own Senate and House Democratic colleagues speak from our platform to the over 18,000 Americans from widely diverse backgrounds –– Democrats, Republicans, Jews, Christians, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, progressives, veterans, students, members of the LGBTQ+ community –– who participate in the conference to proclaim their support for the U.S.-Israel relationship. By engaging in such an odious attack on this mainstream, bipartisan American political event, Senator Sanders is insulting his very own colleagues and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel. Truly shameful.”
Senator Sanders has never attended our conference and that is evident from his outrageous comment.
Full statement: https://t.co/XDcNKhYXSq pic.twitter.com/aJGJiv2wv8
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) February 24, 2020
Other Jewish groups stood with AIPAC.
“It’s offensive that @BernieSanders denigrates the @AIPAC policy conference as a platform for bigotry,” Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Grenblatt tweeted. “At a time when we see a surge of real hate across the US, it’s irresponsible to describe AIPAC like this. @ADL proudly will be there.”
It’s offensive that @BernieSanders denigrates the @AIPAC policy conference as a platform for bigotry. At a time when we see a surge of real hate across the US, it’s irresponsible to describe AIPAC like this. @ADL proudly will be there. https://t.co/MlK4SgYHfL
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 24, 2020
American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris similarly tweeted, “Sen. Sanders, you won’t address 18,000 Americans of all backgrounds celebrating US-Israel ties. Shame. You overlook core interests & values at heart of [the U.S.-Israel] link. Shame. You describe #AIPAC as a platform for bigotry. Shame. You ignore AIPAC’s support for 2-state deal. Shame.”
Sen. Sanders,
You won’t address 18,000 Americans of all backgrounds celebrating US-Israel ties. Shame.
You overlook core interests & values at heart of 🇺🇸🇮🇱 link. Shame.
You describe #AIPAC as a platform for bigotry. Shame.
You ignore AIPAC’s support for 2-state deal. Shame. https://t.co/zMSfUykj0c
— David Harris (@DavidHarrisNY) February 24, 2020
Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action Agenda at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Rabbi Abraham Cooper told the Journal in a phone interview, “It’s not just his absence [that] speaks volumes, the outrageous statement he made of disrespect to millions of American Jews – and to Israelis – is extremely distressing and won’t be forgotten by American Jewry.”
Union for Reform Judaism President Rabbi Rick Jacobs urged Sanders to reconsider and engage in a dialogue with those at the conference.
“If Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to lead the Democratic Party and the nation, I hope he can speak to, engage with, and even debate everyone,” he tweeted. “Don’t skip AIPAC; speak to — and with — participants at AIPAC.”
If Sen. Bernie Sanders wants to lead the Democratic Party and the nation, I hope he can speak to, engage with, and even debate everyone. Don’t skip AIPAC; speak to—and with—participants at AIPAC. https://t.co/VcGbIanpxQ
— Rabbi Rick Jacobs (@URJPresident) February 24, 2020
Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) Executive Director Halie Soifer said in a statement that voting against President Donald Trump would be the driving force behind the Jewish vote in the November elections.
“Candidates should be judged on their positions, not on whether they attend any particular conference,” Soifer said. “JDCA will support the Democratic nominee — whomever that may be — in November, and strongly opposes the use of Israel as a political wedge issue. The U.S.-Israel relationship, has been — and must remain — a bipartisan issue.”
Jewish Democratic members of Congress issued statements rebuking Sanders’ tweet.
“Hurling insults and derogatory remarks like this is not productive to maintaining bipartisan support for a strong US-Israel relationship,” Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.) tweeted. “I strongly condemn @BernieSanders’ tweets about @AIPAC and encourage my colleagues to join me in attending this bipartisan policy conference.”
Hurling insults and derogatory remarks like this is not productive to maintaining bipartisan support for a strong US-Israel relationship. I strongly condemn @BernieSanders’ tweets about @AIPAC and encourage my colleagues to join me in attending this bipartisan policy conference. https://t.co/v7DnMiiPcn
— Elaine Luria (@ElaineLuriaVA) February 24, 2020
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) said in a statement, “Thousands of the [conference] participants will be proud Democrats like me who strongly support Israel and also reject bigotry in all forms, and progressive Democrats like me who know you can care deeply about Israel and a brighter future for Palestinians while advocating for two states living side-by-side in peace and security as a result of direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. I will continue to strongly support Israel’s security in the face of ongoing attacks and other serious threats. And unlike Senator Sanders, I look forward to sharing my views with the pro-Israel Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who will be gathering in Washington next week.”
Community members also spoke out in defense of AIPAC.
“I’ve attended AIPAC more than ten times,” Sinai Temple Rabbi David Wolpe tweeted. “Every time Palestinian rights were mentioned people applauded. There are a range of views presented, left, right and center. This dismissal is unwarranted and unworthy.”
I’ve attended AIPAC more than ten times. Every time Palestinian rights were mentioned people applauded. There are a range of views presented, left, right and center. This dismissal is unwarranted and unworthy. https://t.co/4yS08TS17L
— David Wolpe (@RabbiWolpe) February 24, 2020
Israel-based writer and Journal contributor Hen Mazzig tweeted, “I’m an Israeli, a queer Jew of color and proud to join @AIPAC [Policy Conference]. Every year I find it to be one of the most inclusive & welcoming spaces. Senator, you have done nothing to gain the trust of Israelis/Palestinians, if anything, your surrogates have pushed us further apart.”
I’m an Israeli, a queer Jew of color and proud to join @AIPAC PC. Every year I find it to be one of the most inclusive & welcoming spaces. Senator, you have done nothing to gain the trust of Israelis/Palestinians, if anything, your surrogates have pushed us further apart.
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) February 24, 2020
The only other Democratic presidential candidate who has declined to attend the conference is Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). During a Feb. 6 town hall in New Hampshire, IfNotNow activist Sarah O’Connor asked Warren if she would commit to skipping AIPAC, saying that AIPAC is forming an alliance “with Islamophobes and anti-Semites and white nationalists, and no Democrat should legitimize that kind of bigotry by attending their annual policy conference.”
Warren responded: “Yes.”
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