Bernie Sanders Signs AOC’s Anti-annexation Letter Threatening to Cut U.S. Military Aid to Israel

WASHINGTON – Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders has added his name to a public letter against Israel's plans to annex parts of the West Bank. The letter, which is being spearheaded by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, calls to limit or withhold U.S. military aid to Israel should it follow through with the proposed annexation.

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Sanders is one of a dozen Democratic lawmakers, and the only one from the Senate, to join the letter, which has drawn strong denunciation from AIPAC on Monday.

The letter is different in content and tone from a more moderate anti-annexation letter that was released earlier this month and signed by over 190 Democratic members of the House of Representatives. That letter explained opposition to annexation mostly through pro-Israeli arguments, and was signed by several high-ranking Democrats who are considered strong supporters of Israel and close allies of AIPAC, such as Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

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– Read the letter drafted by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Israel’s annexation plans.

Read the letter drafted by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Israel’s annexation plans.

The Ocasio-Cortez letter, which now also enjoys Sanders’ support, is much more critical of Israel, and warns explicitly that unilateral annexation would create an "apartheid" reality on the ground.

It also includes a direct call to set conditions on U.S. military aid to Israel so that "U.S. taxpayers are not supporting annexation in any way," an idea that Sanders has been promoting for more than a year, and that has been rejected by the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, who has called it “outrageous.”

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– AIPAC AOC letter

The letter rejects President Obama’s security assistance commitment to Israel (MOU). Dems and Reps in Congress agree the MOU is in America’s interest and is a key pillar of our security strategy in the region. Congress must continue to fully implement the Obama-@JoeBiden MOU.

— AIPAC (@AIPAC) June 29, 2020

The letter clearly says annexation would "entrench human rights violations against the Palestinian people," pointing it out as a consequence of larger Israeli policy. "American taxpayers shouldn't be enabling violations of human rights anywhere, and Israel should be no exception," a Congressional source involved in discussions over the letter told Haaretz.

AIPAC came out against the letter in a series of tweets that included praise for Biden and former President Barack Obama for their administration’s policy of increasing military aid to Israel. “The letter rejects President Obama’s security assistance commitment to Israel,” AIPAC wrote, adding that “Congress must continue to fully implement the Obama-Biden” policy on security aid to Israel.