Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) reportedly told members of the Democratic Socialists of America on Tuesday night that she would oppose all US aid to Israel, including for defensive weapons, JTA reports.
The comments marked a reversal for Ocasio-Cortez, also known by her initials AOC, who previously has opposed aid that would support offensive weapons but has backed allocations for defensive aid, such as to the Iron Dome missile defense system.
Peter Sterne, an editor at City and State NY, was the first to report Ocasio-Cortez’s comments at the meeting, which was streamed online for members only.
The meeting was a forum to determine whether the DSA will endorse Ocasio-Cortez’s reelection bid this fall.
Asked whether she would support an arms embargo on Israel, according to Sterne’s report, Ocasio-Cortez said, “I have not once ever voted to authorize funding to Israel, and I will never. The Israeli government should be able to finance their own weapons if they seek to arm themselves.”
A member then asked her to clarify: “If the moment presents itself in Congress, will you commit to voting ‘no’ for any spending on arms for Israel, including so-called ‘defensive capabilities?’”
Ocasio-Cortez answered, “Yes.”
Ocasio-Cortez, who is a member of the so-called “Squad” of progressive Democrats known for their anti-Israel stance, has a history of anti-Israel behavior, including accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinian Arabs.
She later defended her usage of the term “genocide”, saying in an interview that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has “crossed the threshold of intent.”
In a 2019 radio interview, Ocasio-Cortez said that Israel is “criminal” in its treatment of Palestinian Arabs, whom she said have no other choice but to “riot” against the Jewish state.
Before that, she said that cutting military and economic aid to Israel as a way to signal opposition to Israeli policies should be “on the table.” AOC has also called Israel an “apartheid state”.
(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News’ North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Passover in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
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