Posted on 07/11/24
| News Source: FOX45
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) on Wednesday announced the group would revoke its endorsement of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over her stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
DSA wrote it initially made its endorsement of AOC contingent on whether she opposed funding to Israel, participated with the DSA, supported divestment from Israel and opposed “criminalization of anti-Zionism.” The group added, however, that the progressive Democrat has proven unable to meet their requirements.
“Because we have not seen evidence of AOC meeting these conditions, and at the request of the NYC-DSA SC, the NPC is withdrawing our conditional endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, although she will remain endorsed by our New York City chapter,” it wrote. “Many members have supported national endorsement while at the same time demanding that AOC demonstrate a higher level of commitment to Palestinian liberation, self-determination, and the immediate end to the heinous genocide in Gaza committed by Israel that aligns with DSA’s positions and expectations of socialists in office.”
The group continued by noting Rep. Ocasio-Cortez had “conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism” at a recent public panel. Such a move, the group wrote, was a “deep betrayal.”
“A national DSA endorsement comes with a serious commitment to the movement for Palestine and our collective socialist project<<>’ the group wrote. “We must endorse candidates who enthusiastically seek a relationship with DSA, and the National Political Committee as the highest body of the organization between conventions is responsible for setting the criteria we establish for national endorsements.”
“To build a socialist movement that’s capable of defeating capitalism, we must demand more from leaders in our movement,” it concluded.
The move follows months of moderation from Rep. Ocasio-Cortez as she walks a tightrope between her most progressive Democratic colleagues and other more moderate Democrats. She didn't go as far as some of her "Squad” colleagues in protesting Israel during President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address in March.
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has been highly critical of “Squad” members in their response to the conflict in Gaza. The senator in 2023 condemned members of Congress who blamed Israel for a rocket blast in Gaza that killed hundreds of people at a hospital.
“It’s truly disturbing that Members of Congress rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy in Gaza,” Sen. Fetterman wrote.