House Democrat Haley Stevens Links Bernie Sanders to ‘Jihad’ Against Jews

AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) linked Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to “extremism” and “jihad” against Jewish people.

Stevens lost August’s U.S. Senate Democratic primary in Michigan to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who pledged to oppose continued U.S. aid to Israel. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent more than $30 million trying to defeat El-Sayed in what was one of the most expensive primaries in history. After the primary, AIPAC wanted to throw its support behind El-Sayed’s Republican opponent in the general election, former Rep. Mike Rogers. However, Rogers’ campaign is reportedly wary of having the pro-Israel group as a benefactor. Polls show Americans’ views of Israel are increasingly negative.

In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Stevens, who is not Jewish, accused Sanders, who is, of being in league with anti-Zionists, whom she described as being part of a “hate movement.”

“I believe that anti-Zionism is a hate movement that has taken over in America and throughout parts of the West,” Stevens said in the interview, which was published Wednesday.

“I really don’t know what Bernie Sanders has done for peace in the Middle East, for Palestinian dignity,” Stevens added. “I can’t think of anything he’s totally done. It’s a sickness that needs to end. You know, it’s a linkage towards extremism or Jihad, I don’t know.”

Like El-Sayed, Sanders has also called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.

Regarding El-Sayed, Stevens said, “Abdul has done a very good job on the internet, you know, and being anti-Israel is also very popular on the internet.”

El-Sayed has been an outspoken critic of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the military offensive in Gaza, which, according to health officials in Gaza, has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, a figure that the Israel Defense Forces has reportedly acknowledged as legitimate. Additionally, the prime minister successfully lobbied President Donald Trump to strike Iran in February, sparking an unpopular war that remains ongoing.

Stevens has been a fervent supporter of Israel, declaring in 2023, “Israel comes to me in my dreams!“

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!