Former Vermont Governor calls Israel an Apartheid state

• Author: MICHAEL STARR
• Published date: 03 October 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

"I've been there [Israel] and I think our alliance with Israel is important [sic] both the US and Israel. And Israel is in fact, an apartheid state," said Dean in response to a tweet by Scottish journalist Eve Barlow.

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When asked to explain what he thought Apartheid meant and how Israel met its parameters, Dean explained that "Palestinian Property is being confiscated in East Jerusalem, unarmed Palestinians are killed on the West Bank by both the IDF and settlers."

Dean's comments were in response to Scottish Journalist Eve Barlow writing on Twitter that "Israel is nowhere near an Apartheid state but I guess those who want desperately to believe that it is won't ask anyone who's actually been there."

Dean's remarks follow closely on the tail-end of two controversies in the Democrat Party over US relations with Israel — The Iron Dome funding vote and Vice President Kamala Harris's response to a student accusing Israel of genocide.

On September 21, Democratic Party leadership in the US House of Representatives removed about $1 billion of funding for Israel's Iron Dome defense system at the behest of progressive Democrat House Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of NY and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Ultimately, a bipartisan bill for Iron Dome funds was passed 420-9. Ocasio-Cortez voted "present" and appeared to cry following the vote result.

During the debate about the stand-alone bill, Tlaib also stated that Israel is an Apartheid state, arguing that "We cannot be talking...