Engel so wrong on Israel, I’m running against him

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To the editor,

In “Criticizing Israel, Bernie Sanders Highlights Split Among Jewish Democrats” (New York Times, April 15), Rep. Eliot Engel told The Times that Bernie Sanders’ comments on Israel during his debate with Hillary Clinton were “disgraceful and reprehensible” and added, “Maybe he feels like he has to bend over backwards because he’s Jewish.” 

Engel’s remark suggests that Sanders’ Jewish background compromises his political positions. This is a very basic anti-Semitic slur. Furthermore, Engel’s dismissal of Sanders’ insistence that we “treat the Palestinian people with respect and dignity,” and that we acknowledge disproportionate force used by Israel in 2014, demonstrate that the congressman is completely blind to the suffering in Gaza.

I urge my fellow residents of Engel’s district in the Bronx and Westchester to take note of their congressman’s reactionary words. I would also like to inform them that I will be challenging Mr. Engel for his congressional seat as an independent in the upcoming election. 

Akiva Zamcheck

Israel, Eliot Engel, Akiva Zamcheck

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