Sanders suspends Jewish staff member for Netanyahu comments
Democrat presidential hopeful dismissed a Jewish member of staff after she called Netanyahu ‘arrogant, deceptive and cynical’.
Natasha is a journalist
Bernie Sanders has suspended his Jewish Outreach Coordinator just days after her appointment over comments she made about the Benjamin Netanyahu, writes Natasha Sporn.
Simone Zimmerman, 25, was only appointed on Tuesday but her position ceased when The Washington Free Beacon uncovered Zimmerman’s Facebook post calling Netanyahu ‘arrogant, deceptive and cynical’.
Ms Zimmerman also used her expletive-laden post to accuse Netanyahu of ‘sanctioning the murder of over 2,000 people’ in Gaza in 2014.
Both the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and the Anti-Defamation League called for her suspension shortly after she was appointed.
A spokesman for Senator and nomination candidate Mr Sanders confirmed to the New York Times: ‘She has been suspended while we investigate the matter.’
Ms Zimmerman is the co-founder and leader of IfNotNow, a coalition group started following Operation Protective Edge calling for an end to the Gaza war.
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