Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who has been a leading opponent of Israel in Congress, lost the endorsement of the national leadership of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on Wednesday for not being anti-Israel. sufficient.
in statementThe DSA listed reasons for withdrawing its support, including AOC’s vote for a resolution declaring that opposition to Israel’s right to exist is tantamount to anti-Semitism, her signing of a letter in support of the Iron Dome anti-terrorism missile defense system developed by Israel to protect civilians, and her recent participation in a panel with two experts on anti-Semitism who argued against a “Zionist” boycott.
AOC has been known as a “democratic socialist” since she ran for Congress in 2018, and DSA’s break with her is less a sign of her moving toward the center than it is a sign of the group’s increasingly radical opposition to Israel.
The statement reads in part:
We recognize that AOC has taken many courageous positions regarding Palestine, including co-sponsoring House resolutions (3103, 786, 496), naming Israeli genocide, and opposing House Resolution 894. However, lawmakers have raised concerns about many of her votes, including her vote in favor of House Resolution 888, which conflates opposition to Israel’s “right to exist” with anti-Semitism. AOC also co-signed a press release on April 20, 2024, “In Support of Palestine.”[s] Strengthening Iron Dome and other defense systems.”
Finally, AOC recently hosted a public panel with leaders of the Jewish Public Affairs Council, lobbyists who support the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism. The panel conflated anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism and condemned the boycott of Zionist institutions. This sponsorship is a profound betrayal of all those who have risked their well-being in recent months and decades to fight Israeli apartheid and genocide through political and direct action.
Gaining DSA’s national endorsement requires a serious commitment to the Palestinian movement and our joint socialist project. We must support candidates who are eager to associate with DSA. The National Political Committee, as the highest organizing body between conventions, is responsible for setting the standard for national endorsement. Chapters are responsible for clearly communicating this to supported candidates when applying for national endorsement. The NPC is committed to ensuring that all elected officials unashamedly support Palestinian freedom. To build a socialist movement capable of defeating capitalism, we must demand more from the leadership of our movement.
AOC has been spreading anti-Israel propaganda since the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks. She even went so far as to denounce the Abraham Accords, a peace agreement between Israel and several Arab countries, as a cause of war.
she Accused He campaigned for Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), who condemned Israel as a “genocide” in an impassioned speech on the floor of Congress and took a staunch pro-Palestinian stance until losing his primary last month.
That apparently wasn’t enough for the DSA.
Joel B. Pollack is executive editor of Breitbart News. Breitbart News Sunday The show airs Sunday nights from 7 to 10 p.m. (4 to 7 p.m. ET) on SiriusXM Patriot. He is the author of “Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days,” which is available for preorder on Amazon. He also wrote,The Trump Virtues: The Lessons and Legacy of Donald Trump’s Presidency” is available on Audible. He is the 2018 recipient of the Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter. Joel Pollack.
