Israeli Ambassador to UN Attacks Sanders

World

March 3rd, 8:28am

Tel Aviv- Asharq Al-Awsat

Danon, Netanyahu and his wife Sara at UN headquarters in New York, US, September 19, 2017EDUARDO MUNOZ/ REUTERS

In a statement far from being diplomatic, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon described on Sunday Democratic presidential frontrunner Bernie Sanders as an ignorant fool and a liar. Speaking at a conference hosted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, DC. Danon said, "We don't want Sanders at AIPAC. We don't want him in Israel. Anyone who calls our prime minister a "racist" is either a liar, an ignorant fool, or both.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had to distance himself from his ambassador’s comments, which drove dismay among Americans. Commenting on Danon’s words a day later, the Israeli PM told the Army Radio: “What I think about this issue is that he is of course wrong, no question,” adding that he was not intervening in the US elections. Last Sunday, Sanders said on Twitter that he would not attend the AIPAC’s annual conference. In a debate, the presidential frontrunner said, “Right now, sadly, tragically, in Israel, through Bibi Netanyahu, you have a reactionary racist who is now running that country.” Danon’s comments reveal the rivalry between the Israeli right-wing bloc and Sanders. Such a challenge began to unveil in the past weeks after the democratic candidate started to advance on other presidential candidates. In several studies conducted in Tel Aviv, political analysts and former politicians criticized Netanyahu for his absolute biased policy towards US President Donald Trump, warning that such policy would harm Israel in case US voters elect a Democratic candidate. In that regard, former Israeli ambassador Zalman Shoval said that he does not fear any harm on the strategic relations between Israel and the US. However, he said, “I won’t be surprised if a democrat US President decides to lessen the financial support to Israel.” Lately, Sanders had also delivered comments that upset the Israeli government when he said he would consider moving the embassy from the capital of Israel in Jerusalem to the city of Tel Aviv.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2160296/israeli-ambassador-un-attacks-sanders