U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his recent stance, drawing a direct parallel to Netanyahu’s past support for the Iraq War. In a strongly worded statement, Sanders said, “Netanyahu was wrong in 2002, and he is wrong now.”
Referring to Netanyahu’s 2002 address to Congress, Sanders recalled how the Israeli leader had confidently claimed that Saddam Hussein was developing nuclear weapons and asserted, “There is no question whatsoever.” Netanyahu further guaranteed that removing Saddam would lead to “enormous positive reverberations” throughout the region. That statement, Sanders said, played a role in leading the United States into the Iraq War—resulting in devastating human and economic consequences.
“Netanyahu was dead wrong then,” Sanders emphasized. “That war cost the lives of 4,492 American soldiers, left more than 32,000 wounded, and drained nearly $3 trillion from the U.S. economy. Most tragically, it resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians.”
The senator warned that Netanyahu is once again taking a dangerous, war-driven approach—this time targeting Iran. “But the United States must not repeat the mistakes of the past,” Sanders said. “We will not be part of Netanyahu’s war against Iran.”
Sanders’ statement has reignited debate within the United States over its position on Israel, particularly at a time when key factions within the Democratic Party are increasingly advocating for a peaceful resolution and diverging from the Biden administration’s stance.
Analysts argue that diplomacy, not war, must be the path forward in the Middle East.
