WASHINGTON — The U.S. has to take a harder stance against Saudi Arabia and its support of the kind of fundamentalist ideology that drives Islamic State and al-Qaida, Bernie Sanders said Sunday.
“We are not taking a hard enough look at Saudi Arabia,” the Democratic presidential candidate said on ABC’s “This Week.” Parts of the Saudi ruling family have funded the “extremely right-wing fundamentalist ideology” of Wahhabism in schools around the world, he said. “Saudi Arabia is playing a very dangerous role in fomenting fundamentalism all over the world.”
Asked about reports that Saudi Arabia would sell American assets if Congress approves a bill allowing victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to sue the Saudi government, Sanders said the U.S. “can’t be blackmailed.”
Sanders also said the U.S. “cannot ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people” in its support of Israel. He cited civilian deaths and “mass destruction” from Israel’s 2014 military operation in Gaza meant to counter rocket attacks. Sanders specifically accused his opponent, Hillary Clinton, of ignoring Palestinians in recent remarks on Israel.
“You can’t just always nod your head to (Benjamin) Netanyahu,” he said of the Israeli prime minister. “He is wrong on occasion.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.