B’nai B’rith International is troubled by particular nominees of presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders to the Democratic convention platform panel. Cornel West, with a history of virulently anti-Israel statements, and James Zogby, a longtime partisan critic of the indispensable alliance between the United States and Israel, both were appointed to the drafting committee earlier this week.

West is a prominent supporter of the discriminatory Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which is trying to isolate and delegitimize Israel by boycotting companies that do business with the Jewish state. West has also stated that Hamas’ crimes “pale in the face of U.S.-supported Israeli slaughter of innocent civilians.”

Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, told reporters that the Democratic platform language will take a “tougher” stance against Israel “to reflect a new consensus,” and that the word “occupation” will refer to Israel’s presence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian Authority governs the life of its population in the West Bank, and Israel unilaterally and completely withdrew from Gaza in 2005.

Sanders’ choices risk undermining and eroding traditional American bipartisan support for the Jewish state. B’nai B’rith urges all candidates to uphold the commitment of the American people, and the overwhelming majority of its elected representatives, to Israel as a vital U.S. interest.

B’nai B’rith International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and as such does not endorse or oppose any candidate for elected office.