AOC slams Biden for Israel support and taking ‘the side of occupation’
By Emily Jacobs
New York Post
May 13, 2021
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is hitting President Biden over his comments supporting Israel and accusing him of taking “the side of occupation” — as tensions in the region reignite, with the Israel Defense Forces responding to Palestinian militants showering rockets over Israeli cities.
Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) made the remarks Wednesday on Twitter, responding to the 46th commander-in-chief saying earlier that day that Israel “has a right to defend itself when you have thousands of rockets flying into your territory.”
Biden on Wednesday spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reaffirm US support for Israel.
“I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu not so long ago,” Biden told reporters at the White House.
“My expectation and hope is that this will be closing down sooner than later. But Israel has a right to defend itself against thousands of rockets flying into your territory.”
“Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence — namely, the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa — dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations,” AOC wrote on the social media platform, adding, “It’s wrong.”
In a follow-up tweet, the progressive pol conceded that Hamas’ behavior was “condemnable.”
“By only stepping in to name Hamas’ actions — which are condemnable — & refusing to acknowledge the rights of Palestinians, Biden reinforces the false idea that Palestinians instigated this cycle of violence.
“This is not neutral language. It takes a side — the side of occupation.”
Tel Aviv came under a barrage of 130 rockets launched by Hamas from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, sending residents fleeing for shelter as air raid sirens blared across Israel’s second-largest city.
Israel’s Iron Dome defense system was activated Tuesday night, with the streaks of multiple interceptor missiles lighting up the skies over the area.
The heavy bombardment came after an Israeli strike earlier Tuesday evening that leveled a high-rise building in Gaza that housed the offices of several top Hamas officials. That strike had come in retaliation for earlier Hamas aggression.
Both sides had been firing at each other throughout the day, in some of the worst fighting between Israel and the terror group since their 2014 war.
As of Thursday, at least 83 people have been killed in Gaza since the hostilities erupted Monday. About 400 Palestinians have been injured.
On the Israeli side, seven people have been killed, including a 21-year-old soldier.
In total, more than 1,600 rockets have been fired at Israel since Monday, with 400 falling short, according to the latest figures from the Israel Defense Forces.
Members of AOC’s progressive “Squad” have come out in recent days to accuse Israel of “terrorism” and calling for a shift in US policy toward the Jewish state.
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) blasted Israel for committing an “act of terrorism” by launching airstrikes into the Gaza Strip after Hamas and other Islamic militants bombarded multiple locations in Israel with rockets.
“Israeli air strikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism. Palestinians deserve protection. Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians. It’s unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid,” she tweeted Monday, referring to Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that ends the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
Omar’s tweet came shortly after the Gaza Ministry of Health announced the airstrikes led to 20 fatalities — with Israel announcing at least 16 were militants, according to ABC News.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who is of Palestinian descent, tweeted, “American taxpayer money is being used to commit human rights violations. Congress must condition the aid we send to Israel, and end it altogether if those conditions are not followed. Statements aren’t working @SecBlinken. Enough is enough.”
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) chimed in, announcing her support for Palestinians and jabbing Israel amid the tension.
“I stand in solidarity with the Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem who are being forcibly removed from their homes — in the middle of a pandemic, during Ramadan. This is unacceptable,” the Massachusetts pol wrote.
Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter as well to echo the sentiment, and blast “inhumane” Israel for “inflicting violence.”
“We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem. Israeli forces are forcing families from their homes during Ramadan and inflicting violence. It is inhumane and the US must show leadership in safeguarding the human rights of Palestinians,” AOC wrote.
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