Bernie Sanders Wins the Trust of America's Muslims

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/36779-focus-bernie-sanders-wins-the-trust-of-americas-muslims-while-jeremy-corbyn-stumbles-over-jew-bashing-in-britain

Proudly Jewish, though secular, and “100% pro-Israel,” as Bernie Sanders famously described himself in his April debate with Hillary in Brooklyn, he has never hesitated to support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself against attack. But, even at the risk of losing Jewish voters, he called Israel’s 2014 attack on Gaza “disproportionate,” and publicly declared what Democratic Party politicians had only whispered privately, that “Netanyahu is not right all the time.”

“If we are ever going to bring peace to that region which has seen so much hatred and so much war,” said Sanders, “we are going to have to treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignity.”

Many of us who back Bernie might have wanted him to go much further. Even so, his honesty and not always successful struggle with his own heritage have won enormous support from American Muslims. “On foreign policy, Sanders has shown the most even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” wrote the Arab American News. Located in Dearborn, Michigan, America’s largest Arab community, the paper played a leading role in helping Bernie carry the state and win Arab and Muslim support elsewhere. Their endorsement in March speaks volumes.

“Although his views on this issue do not rise to the aspirations of Arab Americans who would like to see Washington take a clear stance against Israel’s human rights abuses and occupation of Palestinian land, Sanders’ call for ending the blockade of Gaza is a step in the right direction, his condemnation of Israeli attacks that kill Palestinian civilians is unprecedented by any major presidential candidate.”