Sanders criticizes pro-Israel groups' influence on US democracy

In a post on X, US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) criticized the influence of pro-Israel groups on American democracy. He warned that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other "billionaire-funded super PACs" are set to spend "tens of millions of dollars to defeat" Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan's Senate race.

Sanders highlighted El-Sayed's stance on military spending, stating, "As a taxpayer, he understands that we should not be spending over a trillion dollars on the military and billions of dollars supporting the genocidal Netanyahu government in Israel." Sanders added, "Whether it is AIPAC, AI or crypto, billionaire-funded super PACs will spend unlimited amounts of money to undermine democracy and defeat candidates who stand with working people and challenge their power. We cannot allow them to succeed."

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate from Michigan, has described Israel's war on Gaza as a genocide and has criticized US military aid to Israel, arguing that the money should instead be spent on Americans.

According to Mehr News, Sanders' remarks underscore ongoing concerns about the role of money in politics and the influence of foreign policy lobbies on US elections.