Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to media in the spin room after the Democratic presidential primary debate. Getty
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to media in the spin room after the Democratic presidential primary debate. Getty
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to media in the spin room after the Democratic presidential primary debate. Getty
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to media in the spin room after the Democratic presidential primary debate. Getty

Bernie Sanders calls Netanyahu a 'reactionary racist' in fiery Democrat debate


Joyce Karam
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Another feisty debate between Democratic candidates running to face off with US President Donald Trump featured front-runner Bernie Sanders taking aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The six Democratic candidates gathered in South Carolina on Tuesday to set up their stalls. The debate grew fractious as the group discussed domestic and foreign policy.

On the Middle East, Mr Sanders stood apart from the field in directing heavy criticism at Mr Netanyahu.

While saying he is “very proud of being Jewish,” Mr Sanders described the head of the Likud party as a “reactionary racist”.

He said the US could defend Israel but “cannot ignore the suffering of the Palestinian people".

Mr Sanders said he would consider reversing Mr Trump's decision to move the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv if he became president.

Former mayor of New York City Mike Bloomberg disagreed, saying: “It was done and you will have to leave it there."

Former mayor of South Bend, Pete Buttigieg, expressed support for the people of Idlib in Syria under bombardment from the regime of President Bashar Al Assad.

“I stand with the people of Idlib,” Mr Buttigieg said, but offered no plan to resolve the humanitarian crisis that has caused more than 900,000 people to flee since December, according to the UN.

Elizabeth Warren, a senator for Massachusetts, called for a humanitarian response and said the US should work with allies on Idlib.

Ms Warren also voiced her support for withdrawing troops from the Middle East.

“We have a sacred responsibility to them and that means to not use our military to solve problems that cannot be solved militarily," she said.

Former vice president Joe Biden was more combative in the latest debate, appealing to African-American voters whose backing will be crucial to give him a victory in the Palmetto state on Saturday.

“I will win South Carolina,” Mr Biden said after losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

He would use a possible win there to gain momentum for the Super Tuesday states next week.

Mr Biden promised to appoint the first black woman to the Supreme Court if he won the presidency.

Asked about his motto, Mr Biden said it was: “Everyone’s entitled to be treated with dignity, no matter what, no matter who they are."

Mr Sanders quoted Nelson Mandela, saying: “Everything is impossible until it happens."

He leads in national polls, with Mr Bloomberg and Mr Biden fighting for second place.

But the leftist senator came under heavy attack from other candidates on Tuesday for praising education programmes in Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba and not being clear about funding for his costly healthcare plans.

Fourteen states will vote next Tuesday, encompassing 40 per cent of the US population.

The Democratic candidates will try to accumulate as many delegates as possible to reach the 1,991 required to secure the nomination.

Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances

All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.

Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.

Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.

Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.

Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.

Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.

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