Speaking at a conference Monday hosted by the liberal-leaning Jewish organization J Street, Sen. Bernie Sanders expressed support for leveraging billions of dollars in annual U.S. military aid to stop Israel's horrific treatment and occupation of the Palestinian people.

"My solution is to say to Israel: You get $3.8 billion every single year. If you want military aid you're going to have to fundamentally change your relationship to the people of Gaza," said Sanders, who is vying to become the first Jewish president in U.S. history.

The Vermont senator also took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he said is pursuing a racist and authoritarian agenda.

"It is not anti-Semitism to say that the Netanyahu government has been racist," Sanders said to applause. "That's a fact."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) leads the field of contenders in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) close behind.

The latest CNN-University of New Hampshire survey finds Sanders at 21 percent, followed by Warren at 18 percent.

Former Vice President Joe Biden comes in third place at 15 percent, followed by South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 10 percent and three candidates — tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) — tied at 5 percent support.

Sanders has the highest favorability rating in the field at 66 percent positive and 23 percent negative. Warren posts a 63-25 split and Biden rings in at 55-30.

New Hampshire voters also view Sanders as most likable, with 27 percent liking him the most, 20 percent saying Biden, 14 percent for Buttigieg and 10 percent for Warren.