Sanders: AIPAC is a platform ‘for leaders who express bigotry’

US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said he will not attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference because it is a platform for leaders who “express bigotry and oppose basic Palestinian rights”.

In a tweet, Sanders wrote: “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.”

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

He continued: “As president, I will support the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians and do everything possible to bring peace and security to the region.”

AIPAC hit back at Sanders, describing his attack as “odious”, and said he had never attended their conference.

In a statement, it claimed that AIPAC welcomed many from “diverse” backgrounds, including Democrats and Hispanic Americans.

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

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However, anti-occupation group IfNotNow, which has lobbied Democratic presidential candidates to skip the conference, congratulated Sanders on his decision.

The group tweeted: “Thank you Bernie for choosing to #SkipAIPAC! 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 has in the past hosted right-wing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, far-right newspaper Breitbart Editor Joel Pollak, extreme right anti-Palestinian MKs Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Sanders has previously expressed his support for the Palestinians, most recently stating at a Town Hall meeting hosted by US news channel CNN that supporting Israel was possible without backing its government who he branded “racist”, and has advocated for military aid to be halted or directed towards Palestinians. 

READ: AIPAC is in a losing battle to preserve Israel’s bipartisan status in America