Sanders’ Jewish Outreach Coordinator Calls Netanyahu A ‘Manipulative A**hole’

The Bernie Sanders campaign is in full-on damage control mode. Just two days after hiring Simone Zimmerman as its Jewish outreach coordinator, the campaign has suspended her. Vulgar comments about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surfaced on Zimmerman’s Facebook account as first reported by The Washington Free Beacon.

“Bibi Netanyahu is an arrogant, deceptive, cynical, manipulative asshole,” Zimmerman posted to Facebook in 2015.

It wasn’t just a profane insult that led to her suspension. Zimmerman went on to accuse Netanyahu of the murder of more than 2,000 civilians as part of a military campaign against Hamas during the summer of 2014.

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Credit: Freebeacon.com

Even before the story broke, Sanders was taking heat from several Jewish groups over the hiring of Zimmerman. Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, was clear that her selection would be viewed as a potentially hostile position against Israel by the Sanders campaign.

“I call on Senator Sanders to clarify his own positions and whether this hire reflects his views on Israel. Does he support the positions Ms. Zimmerman espouses? If not, he should make that clear by terminating her immediately as one of his closest advisers. If Senator Sanders maintains her as his adviser, it will confirm that his views on Israel match hers.” Lauder said in a statement.

Zimmerman, for her part, refused to comment on the story or the suspension. A spokesperson for the Sanders campaign would only acknowledge that she had been suspended and they are investigating the matter.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Sanders. In less than a week New Yorkers go to the ballot box with 291 delegates at stake. A new New York NBC/WSJ/Marist poll shows Jewish democrats favoring Hillary Clinton by a 65 to 32 margin.

Thursday, Sanders and Clinton squared off in Brooklyn, NY for a debate where US/Israel relations came up. Sanders was critical of the Israeli military response to the 2014 attacks from Hamas in Gaza, calling it “disproportionate.” His response to questions about Israel and concerns that his presidency wouldn’t be a good one for Jews, will likely have an impact on next Tuesday’s results.

Featured Image by Spencer Platt

 

Jeff is reformed conservative who is happy to be thinking for himself again. He's an aspiring author working on his first book. Follow #Brick_Says