A former campaign official for Sen. Bernie Sanders has accused the Vermont senator of intentionally promoting candidates with antisemitic and anti-Israel views within the Democratic Party. Joel Rubin, who previously served as the Jewish outreach lead for Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, stated that the senator is backing some of the most problematic candidates seen in recent history.
"I think what Sanders and the Sanders operation have done is shove into our system the most categorically anti-Israel, antisemitic candidates that we’ve seen in a generation — if ever, certainly within the Democratic Party — and it’s by design," Rubin told Jewish Insider. He characterized Sanders' actions as an effort to "undermine Democratic unity and even rationality on Israel."
Rubin, also a former State Department official under President Barack Obama, expressed disappointment with Sanders' recent endorsements, particularly his past support for former Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who reportedly had a tattoo resembling a Nazi "totenkopf" symbol. Rubin described Sanders as an "outright hostile actor" pushing a "hate-based narrative" concerning Israel.
"I’m extremely disappointed. I feel like it violates the goals of promoting peace in the Middle East and the two-state solution, and I believe that it exacerbates the pain and distress that the American Jewish community is experiencing right now in Israel policy," Rubin said. "I had higher hopes for a senator who is Jewish, and his team who knows very well what’s out there."
Rubin warned that these endorsements could make Democrats vulnerable in elections, suggesting that support for Israel is becoming a critical issue for progressive candidates. He added, "We need leadership, and the progressive community needs to stop scapegoating Jews for all problems in the world."
Beyond Platner, Sanders has also campaigned for and endorsed Melat Kiros in Colorado and Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Both have been critical of Israel's actions during the war in Gaza, with Kiros accusing Israel of committing an "alleged genocide."
Sanders has also been among several Democratic members of Congress who have supported efforts to reduce U.S. aid to Israel by $3 billion.
Fox News Digital reached out to Sanders' office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.