Bernie Sanders wants US to Treat Iran and Saudi Arabia more “Even-handedly”

American Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), rankled Israelis with his comments in an interview published by the left-wing newspaper The Intercept that suggested the US is not sufficiently “even-handed” in its dealings with both Israel and the Palestinians and that he would consider supporting a reduction in military aid. While explicitly spreading the blame beyond the Jewish state, Sanders nevertheless called Israel “complicit” in Israel’s “occupation of the West Bank.” Despite the reaction, Sanders did not express anything he has not said before. The former presidential candidate has long been a critic of Israeli policy in areas it conquered in the 1967 war and has advocated using American aid dollars to “bring people together” rather than for arms. Sanders was highly critical of the US alliance with Saudi Arabia, saying Washington needs to treat Riyadh and Tehran with a more even-handed approach.