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.
In a lengthy statement on Wednesday, the group took particular issue with her sponsorship of a recent event with Jewish leaders focused on combating antisemitism, calling it a “deep betrayal.”
The decision was a striking break between the socialist group’s national political committee and arguably its most influential ally in Congress. But it was not entirely unexpected at a time when Israel’s war with Hamas has fractured the left and exposed clashing visions over how to accumulate influence.
There is little question that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, 34, has been one of Israel’s sharpest critics in Congress, leading the push to halt American military aid to Israel and accusing the nation of committing genocide in Gaza. Those positions have drawn sharp critiques, and accusations of antisemitism, from supporters of Israel.
But the congresswoman has also increasingly rejected what she privately views as a self-defeating push for political purity by some on the left, arguing that it cannot achieve its policy objectives related to Israel or domestic issues without broadening its appeal and political power.
She has emerged as an outspoken surrogate for President Biden, a figure many fellow socialists have condemned as a warmonger. She has also carefully calibrated her messaging around the war in Gaza, declining to take some positions that have inflamed Jewish Americans.
That has increasingly strained her relationship with the Democratic Socialists national leadership after a yearslong alliance. (She retains the support of the socialist group’s chapter in New York City, where she is expected to easily win a fourth term this fall in a heavily Democratic district.)
In its statement, National Political Committee of the Democratic Socialists wrote that the congresswoman had taken “many courageous positions on Palestine.” But it said it had voted in June to renew its endorsement only on the condition that she “demonstrate a higher level of commitment to Palestinian liberation, self-determination, and the immediate end to the heinous genocide in Gaza.”
The group specifically wanted her to publicly oppose funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
On Wednesday, the committee said it had not seen progress. It also took issue with her support for a resolution last fall that reaffirmed Israel’s right to exist and called denying that right an act of antisemitism.
And the socialist group objected to Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s participation in a panel discussion last month to draw attention to rising antisemitism on the right and the left. At the event, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said criticism of Israel sometimes crossed into anti-Jewish hate, but she also said that accusations of antisemitism had been weaponized to silence legitimate critiques.
That, Democratic Socialists said, “conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions.” The group also objected to her appearing alongside the leader of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a group it claimed was lobbying for too expansive a definition of antisemitism.
“This sponsorship is a deep betrayal to all those who’ve risked their welfare to fight Israeli apartheid and genocide through political and direct action in recent months, and in decades past,” the socialists’ leaders wrote.
A spokesman for Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
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