The core of the tension lies in the interpretation of a nation’s right to self-defense. While the vast majority of the Senate agrees that Israel has a fundamental right to protect its citizens from terrorism, Sanders has argued that this right does not grant a “blank check” for a military campaign that utilizes starvation as a tool of war. He has been a vocal critic of the restrictions placed on aid delivery, pointing to reports from international relief organizations that describe widespread hunger and a lack of basic medical supplies. For Sanders, the issue is one of consistency: the United States cannot claim to lead the world in human rights while simultaneously providing the bombs that create humanitarian catastrophes. Continue reading…
