Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) expressed his wish for Israel to replace its long-serving Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, amid the Middle-Eastern country’s war with Hamas.
What Happened: Sanders voiced his opinion during CNN’s “State of the Union” interview, stating that Netanyahu was ill-equipped to handle the intricate issue of Palestinian sovereignty.
"I hope [voters] get rid of him," he said.
Sanders’ hope is for Israeli voters to “put in a government which understands the severity of the crisis.”
While Sanders maintained that Israel has the right to defend itself, he criticized the country’s extreme right-wing faction. He accused them of fueling the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank by settlers.
Commenting on Israel’s offensive on Hamas, Sanders said, “There got to be a better way than killing thousands of men, women and children.”
However, unlike his progressive congressional colleagues, the senator stopped short of advocating a full cease-fire.
Why It Matters: Netanyahu, who has held the prime ministerial post for 16 years, is the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history.
Israel’s next parliamentary election is scheduled for 2026.
Over 9,400 people have lost their lives in Gaza, and tens of thousands have been injured, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza. Israel has reported at least 1,400 casualties, with the majority occurring during the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7.
Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald on Shutterstock
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