Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has condemned fellow Democratic Representative Jared Moskowitz’s (D-FL) social media post targeting Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) over his opposition to the $95.3 billion aid bill for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan.
On Wednesday, Moskowitz shared a post on Twitter stating “Bernie, now do AntiSemitism. Why so quiet?” This prompted Ocasio-Cortez to defend Sanders, highlighting his family’s Holocaust history and his Jewish values that guide his opposition to the unconditional military aid to Israel.
Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter, “Sen. Sanders’ family was killed in the Holocaust. He dedicates his every moment to realizing tikkun olam. His commitment to protecting innocents in Gaza stems FROM his Jewish values. He and many other Jewish leaders deserve better than to be treated this way. This is shameful.”
Sanders voted against the aid bill on Tuesday, along with two other Democratic Senators, due to his concerns about the lack of conditions on Israel’s use of the funds. The bill provides $61 billion to Ukraine, $26 billion to support Israel and provide humanitarian relief for people in Gaza, and $8 billion to help U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
The aid to Israel has been a source of division among Democrats, with some, like Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez, arguing that it should be conditional on Israel’s human rights record and commitment to a two-state solution with Palestine.
The debate over the aid bill comes as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate, with thousands of rockets fired from Gaza into Israel and heavy airstrikes launched by Israel in response.
Moskowitz’s accusation of anti-Semitism against Sanders has been widely condemned by Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Sanders has long been a vocal critic of Israeli policy, and he has previously called for a reassessment of U.S. aid to Israel. In a 2019 op-ed, he wrote, “The blank check approach to U.S. aid to Israel must end.”
The controversy over Moskowitz’s comments highlights the deep divisions within the Democratic Party on the issue of Israel. It also underscores the ongoing debate over the role of anti-Semitism in discussions about Israel and Palestine.
