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Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said she would vote against any military aid to Israel, including weapons that are deemed “defensive.”

Ocasio-Cortez made the comments to a New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYC DSA) forum, which was first reported on by City & State.

“I have not once ever voted to authorize funding to Israel, and I will never,” Ocasio-Cortez told attendees, in response to an inquiry regarding a potential arms embargo. “The Israeli government should be able to finance their own weapons if they seek to arm themselves.”

“I wanted to clarify,” one DSA member asked in a follow-up. “If the moment presents itself in Congress, will you commit to voting ‘no’ for any spending on arms for Israel, including so-called ‘defensive capabilities?’”

“Yes,” Ocasio-Cortez responded. Since arriving in the House, Ocasio-Cortez has co-sponsored many bills highlighting Palestinian rights and opposing certain weapon sales to Israel. However, the potential presidential candidate has wavered on the subject of “defensive” aid.

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In 2021, she voted present on an Iron Dome bill, claiming that she opposed the actual legislation, but opposed the process in which it was brought to the floor. In 2024, she signed a letter which opposed the sale of offensive weapons to Israel, but declared continued support for Israel’s Iron Dome system.

“We believe strongly in Israel’s right to self-defense and have joined colleagues previously in affirming our shared commitment,” read the letter. “All of us support strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems and we are committed to a sovereign, safe, and secure future for Israel.”

Last year, she voted against an amendment introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) that cut $500 million in Iron Dome funding. Ocasio-Cortez said she opposed the measure because it did nothing to stop weapons from reaching Israel, but made a distinction between “offensive” and “defensive” military aid in a tweet.

“I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of........

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