Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is running for the 2020 Democratic nomination for president, labeled the government under Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “racist” on Monday.
The self-described Socialist, who lived on a kibbutz back in the 1960s, said the Israeli leader’s governing coalition is a “right-wing, dare I say racist, government.”
“I am not anti-Israel. But the fact of the matter is Netanyahu is a right-wing politician who I think is treating the Palestinian people extremely unfairly,” said Sanders to a round of applause during a town hall hosted by CNN.
“What I believe is not radical,” he continued. “I just believe that the United States should deal with the Middle East on a level playing-field basis.”
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tapped Netanyahu last week to form the next governing coalition, which he will have to do within 28 days, though Rivlin may grant a 14-day extension if necessary.
The right-wing bloc is expected to consist of the Likud, Kulanu, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas and United Torah Judaism parties—a 65-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
