New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently found herself in the crosshairs of her liberal counterparts after voting against an amendment proposed by conservative Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia.
The amendment, which aimed to slash the $500 million funding for Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile defense system, was part of the fiscal year 2026 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, according to the New York Post.
Typically, progressives would celebrate Ocasio-Cortez's opposition to any amendment proposed by Greene. However, the subject of the amendment - funding for Israel's defense system - stirred up controversy. The amendment was overwhelmingly defeated, with 422 members voting against it and a mere six in favor.
Among those supporting Greene's amendment were Ocasio-Cortez's "Squad" colleagues, Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, along with Democratic Reps. Al Green of Texas and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania. GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, known for his opposition to all foreign aid, also backed Greene's amendment.
As reported by the Western Journal, the act itself was passed in the early hours of July 18, with a 221 to 209 vote. Five Democrats voted in favor, but Ocasio-Cortez was not among them. This led to a wave of criticism for the New York representative, who was chastised for not supporting Greene's amendment. Her Bronx congressional office was even subjected to vandalism.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) were among the critics, branding her vote as "unacceptable" in a July 19 statement. The DSA expressed their disappointment in Ocasio-Cortez's decision, stating, "An arms embargo means keeping all arms out of the hands of a genocidal military, no exceptions. This is why we oppose Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' vote against an amendment that would have blocked $500 million in funding for the Israeli militarys Iron Dome program."
The DSA further criticized Ocasio-Cortez's stance on the Iron Dome, stating that the US-funded interceptor system has enabled Israel to invade or bomb five different countries in the past two years. The Jewish Telegraph Agency reported that the DSA withdrew its endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez last year following her hosting of an anti-Semitism panel, which the group claimed "conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions."
In response to the controversy surrounding her Iron Dome vote, Ocasio-Cortez took to social media, stating, "Marjorie Taylor Greenes amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it." She further explained that the amendment would only cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue.
Ocasio-Cortez emphasized her long-standing belief that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is not constructive to its end. She remains focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza.
In a subsequent post, a clearly agitated Ocasio-Cortez wrote, "Google is free. If youre saying I voted for military funding, you are lying. Receipts attached. Drag me for my positions all you want, but lying about them doesnt make you part of the left." She added, possibly referring to Greene, "If you believe neo-nazis are welcome and operating in good faith, you can have them!"
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