Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on January 30, 2025. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
US Senate condemns 'Israel's' ban for Arab parties
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Sen. Bernie Sanders demands follow a decision to bar major Arab-led political parties from upcoming elections.
- Sanders condemned the move, arguing it strips political representation from Palestinian citizens, who make up roughly 20% of 'Israel's' population.
- 'Israel's' Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify Arab-majority slates, a ruling expected to spark a High Court legal appeal.
US Senator Bernie Sanders renewed calls to suspend all American military assistance to 'Israel' after 'Israel’s' Central Elections Committee voted to bar major Arab-led political slates four weeks ahead of the nation's legislative election.
In a public statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), the independent senator argued that the decision demonstrates an intentional effort by the governing coalition to exclude Arab citizens from the political process.
"Israel's election committee banned both major Arab parties four weeks before the election," Sanders stated. "If it wasn’t already clear, Netanyahu and his far-right allies want an Israel where Palestinian citizens, 20% of the population, have no voice at all. NO MORE U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL."
Israel's election committee banned both major Arab parties four weeks before the election.
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 28, 2026
If it wasn’t already clear, Netanyahu and his far-right allies want an Israel where Palestinian citizens, 20% of the population, have no voice at all.
NO MORE U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL
Disenfranchisement
The Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify major Arab-led political lists from appearing on the ballot for the October election.
Under 'Israeli' election law, decisions by the panel -which is composed primarily of representatives from political parties in the sitting Knesset- are routinely subject to review by the Supreme Court, which has historically overturned previous disqualifications of Arab parties and candidates.
Sanders' remarks reflect mounting pressure from progressive lawmakers in Washington demanding that the Trump administration condition or halt military funding to 'Israel'.
Critics of the committee's decision contend that excluding Arab-led factions disenfranchises more than one million citizens and undermines democratic representation, while proponents of the ban cite security-related disqualification petitions.
