Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a US representative, said on Wednesday that she will oppose any future US military aid to Israel, including for defensive systems.
In a statement on social media, Ocasio-Cortez said that Israel was fully capable of funding “Iron Dome and other defensive systems”, and that “consistent with my voting record to date, I will not support Congress sending more taxpayer dollars and military aid to a government that consistently ignores international law and US law”.
Her remarks on Wednesday follow reports that she pledged to oppose any future military aid to Israel during a New York City Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) forum on Tuesday evening.
“Our allies who need our military aid must understand that we will provide it consistent with the Leahy amendment and the foreign assistance act”, Ocasio-Cortez added, referring to a law which prohibits the US from providing military support to army units that violate human rights.
According to City & State, which obtained a partial recording of the DSA forum, Ocasio-Cortez told members: “I have not once ever voted to authorize funding to Israel, and I will never,” adding that “the Israeli government should be able to finance their own weapons if they seek to arm themselves.”
My favorite Democrat, if only she was the norm.
Come to think of it, she’s the only Democrat who I don’t find infuriating… the last time I researched one (Maxine Waters) I was revolted
Elizabeth Warren also seems to be speaking sense in a group of nonsensical liberals from what I’ve seen
I would vote for her over Hillary Clinton certainly, or Harris.
Or Biden for that matter, he was embarrassing, too
Those are establishment candidates. Newsom is the establishment pick. The DNC will sabotage AOC for sure
She’s got my vote for that.
US is demanding every last patriot missile for Israel from all other colonies in the world. Trump promised to deplete even more weapons for Gazafication of Iran before handing Iran with regional control over global economy.
There’s a $200B secret pending request that was drafted 2 weeks ago, that is likely to be even higher when it is ever presented to congress, for rebuilding. But, the greater destruction Trump does until leaving, the more desperate for US to bankrupt itself fiscally, in order to maintain bankrupting hegemony over the world. Nevermind Iran asking for war reparations for peace, the colonies could ask for war reparations for economic damage from operation epic fuckup.
Not funding $500B US hegemony bill (with Israel getting a large chunk) will be presented as America hating. It’s AOC that is reason for America’s collapse, not operation epic fuckup.
This is a play on some of computer brand logo (I think) that I can’t remember. Someone please tell me what this is.
They’re an actual company. They make monitors.
Thank you
Fuck yeah, hopefully AOC starts a fuck aid to Israel trend
Based
Only after Ana Kasparian called Lyin’ Zion AOC out on her lies on twitter. And love how she is bringing up the Leahy amendment now when she was fucking ride or die for Biden and Kamala despite the fact that they violated the Leahy amendment AND other US laws AND international law🙄 She’s a neolib Zio grifter whose sole purpose is to put a cap on leftward movement in the Democratic Party and their base🤮
I of course wish AOC would go further and she’s not perfect, but I won’t let perfect be the enemy of the good in this situation.
It’s good that she’s saying this.
If she backs it up with actions maybe. But words are empty and it’s too little too late. Her actions up until now have supported the occupying Zionist entity and its genocide. It’s hard for me and a lot of anti-Zionists to take her seriously when it is very obviously politically expedient for her to say this at this moment (especially right after Ana Kasparov called her out on twitter for her support of Israel). She’s still an opportunist that is part of an imperialist, Zionist party that is complicit in the murder of countless civilians across the globe, and, worst of all, doesn’t seem to understand that. You say “perfect is the enemy of the good” but what good is this for Gaza now when it is decimated and hundreds of thousands have been slaughtered, many still buried under the rubble?
I’ll hold my breath.
Shoulda done that years ago. We wouldn’t be in this predicament today had that been done. She offered criticism of Israel, but when push came to shove she didn’t rock the boat when voting time came and she changed her vote away from “no” to fund Israel’s Iron Dome.
Washington is literally occupied by Israeli assets. This should absolutely be the norm but it’s not so we need to keep pressing. If it were up to me we’d start arresting Israeli backed politicians for treason but as it is were in hell so I’ll give credit where credit is due
Hate on the politicians not moving, not on those moving too slow for your liking. This shit is why you have Trumpaloompa now.
Hate both
slow to improve is still an infinity larger improvement than… nearly every other party official, really
Support and protect this person and leaders like them. Fight for them.
I want to VOTE for her! Oh wait, I already do! Now want to vote for her for Senate (don’t let the door clobber you in the ass on the way out Schmuckie-boy!), and then President!
I mean… I would vote for her (to be POTUS) too, since I’m very much a democratic socialist. Unfortunately her chances of actually being the Democrat nominee are basically zero. And even if she did get that far, she would lose in the same way Kamala and Hillary did. Fence sitters and centrists seem incapable of voting for a woman. 🤷♂️
I would be elated to be proven wrong! Please, Universe! Prove me wrong on this!
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Both were also victims of various forms of election manipulation and fraud, although Hillary’s campaign was especially godawful.
I have not once ever voted to authorize funding to Israel, and I will never
Uh… It’s nice that she’s finally gotten the memo, but is she gaslighting us?
Uh… It’s nice that she’s finally gotten the memo, but is she gaslighting us?
The downvoters in this thread do not live in reality.
So to clarify, her main viewpoint is essentially “I voted against reducing these munitions deals with Israel, because these munitions are intended for defensive purpose?”
Edit: Thank the both of you, and anyone else who feels willing to contribute, for providing the explaination.
Basically yes, because AOC accepted the framing that there is such a thing as defensive weapons funding. The rest of her cohort, Talib, Omar, Lee, others, did not make this same mistake.
The article this thread is associated with, is AOC’s pivot on this issue: AOC no longer accepts the framing that weapons funding can be defensive.
It needs to be clear: AOC no longer supports the position in the above tweet. AOC recognized that her position in 2025 regarding defensive weapons was wrong.
I took it as “I voted against a bill that would cut off defensive munitions funding but not offensive munitions funding.”
I forget what this whole bill/amendment was, but defensive protection of civilians, or the illusion thereof, gives genocidal impunity. If Israel had to pay for some portion of “weapons” given to them then that is less support for Israel which has traditionally received full gifted aid.
When you fund body armour and masks for ICE, you empower them to murder traffic that is too slow to clear. (renee good)
All funding for zionazi Israel is used for genocide. The funding of water for Israel is support for genocide. Republicans say that reimbursing medicare expenses of hospitals in California promoted illegal immigration, even though it is a contractual reimbursement, because if California was forced to repay hospitals, it would have less money somehow to support immigrants.
All funding for zionazi Israel is used for genocide. The funding of water for Israel is support for genocide.
Exactly. And in 2021, AOC thought she could have it both ways, and got heat from the anti-zionists on this matter. In 2025, she got her ankles broken by MTG on the issue. Truly an unforced error on her part and not one she should have been making in the first place when Omar, Talib, Lee, others, weren’t making the same mistakes. She should have asked her colleagues to educate her.
Now she’s getting on the right side of things. Great. But it doesn’t speak well to her instincts to be johnny-come-lately to something she should have been a leader on (if she aspires to Senate or Pres).
in general she’s not well versed on international issues. her core guiding pricipals are good, but she frequetly misses the forest for the trees
is she gaslighting us?
Yes: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024128, https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023681, https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202428
would be nice to do palestinian aid and recognize its not a forgone conclusion that it be annexed and if we for some reason do give aid lets at least limit weaponry we might give them and hey lets work to keep aid channels open to palestine. you know. all the stuff we were doing until 2025.
all the stuff we were doing until 2025.
Literally what? This is all stuff Democrats (including AOC herself) were flamed for not doing until 2025.
nope they were flamed for not doing more. we had limits on weapons and getting aid to isreal was a fight even though it got through. there was aid to plestine. we friggen made a dock to get around israel blockading areas. peoples memories are either miniscule or they edit them as it goes by.
This is historical revisionism.
we had limits on weapons
Literally one paused shipment. Big fucking deal.
getting aid to isreal was a fight even though it got through
The overwhelming majority regularly voting yes is not my idea of a fight.
there was aid to plestine.
There was aid during Trump’s term too. In both cases it was Israel dictating how much aid got through.
we friggen made a dock to get around israel blockading areas
A useless dock that was criticized for being useless the moment it was announcement and eventually was used by the IDF.
its not revisionist. the limits where on types and size of weapons. your reply shows it exactly. it was not good enough so lets just choose worse. before trump we were trying but now its just israel calling the shots. we friggin attacked iran. jeez just a bit after he took office the plans for the west bank as a vacation destination were thrown up. I just don’t get folks that can’t tell the difference between better and worse.
the limits where on types and size of weapons.
There were no limits other than a pause on one shipment of 2000 pound bombs. That is almost literally nothing.
before trump we were trying
Your thoughts and prayers don’t matter to the Palestinians Israel was starving to death.
Israel was always calling the shots with regards to Palestine; Trump is just more blatant about it. He’s also worse on Iran, but that’s a completely different conversation.
it was not good enough so lets just choose worse
That doesn’t have fucking anything with what we’re talking about. You made a claim about Democrats; you don’t get to deflect by talking about Republicans.
its completely what we are talking about. perfect being the enemy of good. The use of pause is pretty disengenous. yes it was paused until 2025 when trump took office which is what stopped the pause. your whole middle section again shows you can’t tell the difference between better and worse. I would never want you “working” to help me. this reminds me so much of obama care. that half a loaf has made things a bit better for me than the no loaf some people seem to prefer. don’t get me wrong I want the whole loaf but refusing to let anyone get the half to make a moral stand is not helping them.
Go further than that, claw back our tax money to pay for healthcare dammit
Give em a bill and charge interest every year.
If they don’t pay, most of the global economy still runs thru NYC, if we sanction their leaders and oligarchs instead of random ass “settlers” who don’t even have a bank account, we could apply real pressure for their government to pay.
Yep, let’s start playing Hard Ball. Stop giving breaks to economic predators and parasites.
Israel does not owe the US for weapons, because they are gifts. The nominally loans are immediately forgiven by state dept.
Yeah but it is what the US says it is. We could just state otherwise, you owe us, fuck you pay us. Not going to happen as they have our politicians compromised, with the CIA’s help it appears. How about some fucking court martials for helping foreign governments compromise our politicians? Death penalty.
forgiving a loan is a permanent contract. You can validly say that everyone who previously cancelled loans were traitorous scum, as a basis for conditions for future sales to Israel, and seizing assets of all “supposed Americans” of those who bribed the traitorous scum as restitution. But cancelled loans themselves are without legal restitution.
I prefer seizing the $10T of Zionazi agents and funding of Zionazi first rule over America to death penalties.
Oh is it? Tell that to all the fucking student loans that were forgiven they went back on. No, it’s clearly not fucking permanent. So we are done here.
Idk what you are talking about. I said the US officials that helped compromise our citizens for a foreign country are traitors. You have a problem with that?
As far as forgiving loans, Israel wasn’t loaned anything, we gave it to them, that’s the whole point here. But yes, we have cancelled loans before, including in the Magna Carta
As far as forgiving loans, Israel wasn’t loaned anything, we gave it to them,
The contractual shenanigans of gifting weapons to Israel is that they are sold with a loan. The state department immediately forgives the loan.
the US officials that helped compromise our citizens for a foreign country are traitors.
I agree. I prefer seizing their and their donors wealth instead of death penalty.
I love how you watch as potus does whatever the fuck he wants and still thinks “oh we have precedent for this” is something anyone should give one singular fuck about.
How about this: we are going to vote for the people that will claw back every fucking penny from that country we can. They fucking owe us.
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This!!!
“I have not once ever voted to authorize funding to Israel, and I will never,”
She has though: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024128, https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023681, https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/202428
It’s a much better track record than pretty much anyone else but this article and post is a pretty blatant attempt at reputation laundering.
Do y’all really fall for this so easily?
And she even called MTG antisemitic for it
Yeah that was really disappointing
Which one of these you linked is providing funding to Israel?
In order:
H.R.5917
This bill extends the authority of the President to impose sanctions on foreign persons using human shields through 2030 and requires the President to impose such sanctions on each foreign person determined to be a member of Palestine Islamic Jihad and orders, controls, or otherwise directs the use of human shields. Currently, such sanctions are (1) required for users of human shields who are members of Hamas or Hezbollah or supporters of those groups, and (2) authorized for other users of human shields.
The President must also determine if a person named in certain congressional requests meets the criteria for such sanctions and report on whether the President intends to impose sanctions on that person.
Additionally, the Department of Defense must report to Congress on the implications of the use of human shields by Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestine Islamic Jihad.
H.R.5961
This bill requires the President to impose property-blocking sanctions on foreign financial institutions and international financial institutions that process, participate in, or facilitate a transaction involving certain Iranian funds (namely, the approximately $6 billion of Iranian funds that the Biden administration permitted to be transferred from restricted accounts in South Korea to restricted accounts in Qatar to facilitate the release of five U.S. citizens detained in Iran).
H.R.6679
This bill imposes immigration-related penalties on certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who are involved with terrorism or attacks against Israel.
Under this bill, members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad or Hamas or who participated in or otherwise facilitated the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel may not be admitted into the United States.
The bill also expands an existing admissions bar against officers, representatives, and spokespersons of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO). Under this bill, all PLO members are barred from admission into the United States.
The bill also prohibits any non-U.S. national who participated in or otherwise facilitated the October 7, 2023, attacks from seeking any immigration-related relief or protections, including (1) protection from being deported to a country where the individual’s life or freedom would be threatened, or (2) asylum in the United States.
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Thank you!
Summaries are generally misleading.
Full text for H.R.5917: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5917/text where it outlines the modifications to public law 115-348 which according to Sec. 3.d authorizes usage of the IEEPA to enforce sanctions.
Israel then directly receives defense spending to enforce those sanctions as well as indirectly being funded via any seized assets that are found in violation of those sanctions as “reperations”. Here’s an example of a $500Mil funding source.
H.R.5961 uses essentially the same mechanism but targets Iran specifically redirecting a large chunk of the $6B mentioned towards Israel.
You are correct that H.R.6679 isn’t about funding, but I still felt it was important to include.
Thank you!
If their plan is to block future US military aid to israel why are they running for a party that vowed to give israel whatever it needs?
Because the reality right now is our system is fundamentally broken, and running as an independent is political suicide due to how the platform works and how people who don’t pay attention to politics tend to vote.
I’m definitely an idealist, but over the last few years have to admit that reality doesn’t match what if love to see and we have to let individuals in positions to push change work from within the system sometimes.
If a “good” guy running for republicans were to show up everyone would still give him shit for being a member of the red party, the same should apply for the democrats party.
Political suicide doesn’t mean shit, you are not going to die running as an independent at worst you are not getting featured in mainstream medias because these are centralized and rigged and only talk and give exposure to certain politicians.
Aoc keep using twitter and doesn’t have a mastodon account, to me it looks like this person doesn’t have any intention to change the system and it’s actually benefiting from it.
If lemmy devs had used the “political suicide” logic they would be working at reddit trying to make it less evil and you wouldn’t be here.
AOC tends to submit to party politics, but it’s important to understand that you don’t need to do that to run under a party’s name. Parties in America don’t get to control their membership and there’s on paper at least no mechanism to enforce intraparty compliance. It’s more accurate to say that she runs as a Democrat than that she runs for Democrats.
AOC is a member of the democrats, she’s not independent, she runs for democrats.
Because there is a deep divide in the party. The voters are turning on Israel in massive numbers. The leadership has not changed position.
The solution is new leadership, like AOC, that reflects the will of the voters. That’s how democracy is supposed to work, in theory.
The alternative is doubling down for Israel and further fracturing the Democratic base. I’m not voting for Gavin Newsom or Kamala Harris or any other pro-genocide candidate in 2028, “lesser of two evils” be damned.
