In an interview with long-time National Public Radio personality Diane Rehm on Wednesday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a candidate for the 2016 presidential nomination, was asked about having dual United States and Israeli citizenships.
The question took Sanders by surprise and he immediately dismissed it as untrue and a product of the Internet.
Exchange as follows:
REHM: Senator, you have dual citizenship with Israel.
SANDERS: Well, no I do not have dual citizenship with Israel. I’m an American. I don’t know where that question came from. I am an American citizen, and I have visited Israel on a couple of occasions. No, I’m an American citizen, period.
REHM: I understand from a list we have gotten that you were on that list.
SANDERS: No.
REHM: Forgive me if that is—
SANDERS: That’s some of the nonsense that goes on in the Internet. But that is absolutely not true.
Rehm went on to ask Sanders about other who may have dual citizenship, but Sanders dismissed the question, pointing out his father was a Polish immigrant. Sanders himself was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1941.
REHM: Interesting. Are there members of Congress who do have dual citizenship or is that part of the fable?
SANDERS: I honestly don’t know but I have read that on the Internet. You know, my dad came to this country from Poland at the age of 17 without a nickel in his pocket. He loved this country. I am, you know, I got offended a little bit by that comment, and I know it’s been on the internet. I am obviously an American citizen and I do not have any dual citizenship.
Sanders went on to offer his thoughts on Israel, stating it was his position that a two-state solution was the answer to the Israeli-Palestinian division and added that he was not a fan of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
(h/t The Federalist)
Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor
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