Ocasio-Cortez Loses the Democratic Socialists’ Endorsement Over Israel

Linkerbaan@lemmy.worldbanned from sitebanned from communitybanned from site to politics @lemmy.world – 389 points – Ocasio-Cortez Loses the Democratic Socialists’ Endorsement Over Israel
nytimes.com

The Democratic Socialists of America pulled its endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York this week, accusing the progressive congresswoman of being insufficiently supportive of the Palestinian cause and efforts to end the war in Gaza..

Her approach has increasingly strained her relationship with some of the left’s most strident critics of Israel. When she rallied last month in the Bronx with Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Jamaal Bowman, dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators angry over her endorsement of Mr. Biden chanted “You’re a fraud, A.O.C.”

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What does this mean?

Typical leftist purity test infighting that makes the rights job easier.

Not at all. There are at least 10 caucuses in the DSA. This decision is the compromise, ya know, democracy. The NY chapter still endorses her.

It means AOC is an establishment liberal not a leftie.

You have that 180° backwards. The establishment is sucking Bibi's genocidal dick. AOC stands with Bernie in opposition to the genocide.

The establishment is sucking Bibi’s genocidal dick. AOC stands with Bernie in opposition to the genocide.

Sanders has been a staunch supporter of Israel since his mayoral days. Its one of the issues where he diverges most heavily from his "lefty" base.

No, he's not. He's one of if not the only Jewish lawmaker that is critical of Israel's genocide.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/where-does-bernie-sanders-stand-on-israel-2/

In a lengthy interview with Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2014, Sanders said that if elected president, he would “support the security of Israel, help Israel fight terrorist attacks against that country and maintain its independence,” while also vowing to maintain “an evenhanded approach to that area.”

https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Where-does-Bernie-Sanders-the-Jewish-candidate-for-president-stand-on-Israel-412448

“Has Israel overreacted? Have they bombed UN facilities? The answer is yes, and that is terribly, terribly wrong,” Sanders said. “On the other hand – and there is another hand – you have a situation where Hamas is sending missiles into Israel – a fact – and you know where some of those missiles are coming from. They’re coming from populated areas; that’s a fact. Hamas is using money that came into Gaza for construction purposes – and God knows they need roads and all the things that they need – and used some of that money to build these very sophisticated tunnels into Israel for military purposes.”

This has been the Sanders response to Israel for decades. He's a reliable vote on more US funding for military support. He routinely endorses resolutions favoring the continued "existence of Israel" in the form of occupied Palestinian lands. He talks about a "Two State Solution" while defending the right of Israel soldiers to respond with brutality and barbarity whenever they are challenged.

Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib this guy ain't. He votes as staunchly in favor of Israel as Ted Cruz or JD Vance.

Yeah, and what would you prefer he say?

"From the River to the Sea / Palestine will be free" would be a great place to start.

Bernie already supports the right of the Palestinian state to exist. So you’ve got your wish.

Unless you want Israel to also stop existing?

In which case you’re not aligned because Bernie supports a two state solution.

Which is a reasonable position to take IMO.

She advocates for keeping Genocide Joe instead of swapping him out. Her actions have disproven her words.

There is a spectrum of political discussion that is more nuanced than that.

I too oppose the sale of arms to and have always opposed the apartheid state that Israel has built. If there's any chance of replacing Biden and not ending up with Trump that is what I want.

I am however 100% certain that Trump will encourage an escalation and wholesale destruction of the Palestinian state and advocate for the rounding up of the Palestinian diaspora. Trump would empower Bibi to escalate to taking over Libya and Trump has openly advocated for war with Iran. Iran, one of the few countries rendering aid to Hamas right now.

Biden is misguided and naive that he thinks Bibi will not exterminate the Palestinians. Trump wants nothing more than to pave Palestine into an Amusement park. Don't get this shit twisted.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-israel-gaza-finish-problem-rcna141905

https://www.vox.com/politics/353037/trump-gaza-israel-protests-biden-election-2024

https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/is-bidens-israel-policy-cynical-or-naive

https://www.usip.org/publications/2021/06/10-things-know-bidens-approach-israeli-palestinian-conflict

At this point there is no reason to even keep Biden except literally wanting to lose to Trump and/or having the Genocide supporter in charge after the election.

I have consistently opposed Biden but even for liberals that want to play the system, endorsing Biden as the candidate when they can swap him out is contradictory to everything they stand for.

These are bold claims, I've edited my comment above with supporting articles. Do you have any supporting evidence for your claims?

Do you have any supporting evidence for your claims?

Linkerbaan? Seriously? LOL!

I've been known to shitpost here and there, look at my comment history for proof of that. However, I always atleast try to start from a position of good faith and extend that assumption to whoever I'm disagreeing/discussing/arguing with here on Lemmy. Even routine shitposters and what some consider trolls.

We're all humans out here. I try not to amplify divisive politics.

The system will always co-opt individuals seeking to dismantle it. This is why reform is nearly impossible.

Edit: Thought experiment; think about what your price would be.

I don’t even know if there is necessarily a price. I think on some level, people just start to realize certain issues take priority over others, especially when you’re fighting the opposing party. You have to compromise on some things. If she were out there cutting down Biden every day over Israel, it’s going to make it hard for her to get other things done. It’s also going to make it more likely that Trump wins. You have to pick your battles, rather than spending all of your political capital on a single issue that she won’t be able to have enough impact to actually change.

To a large extent, this problem is systemic. We have a two party system that doesn’t allow a ton of nuance. Also, politicians are involved, and politicians are always thinking about elections. I wish we could just vote on the issues themselves in our democracy.