Tipsheet

After Praising Jeremy Corbyn, Ocasio-Cortez Now Pledges to Look Into His Anti-Semitism

Cortney O'Brien
Cortney O'Brien  |  February 04, 2019 1:15 PM

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has struck up a friendship with a lawmaker across the pond. 

A concerned follower of hers, however, noted the Labour leader's history of controversial rhetoric about Jewish people.

"I’m a huge huge fan of yours," wrote Elad Nehorai, a writer for The Guardian who describes himself as a progressive Orthodox Jew. "I hope you’ll take a look at the amount of Jews trying to call attention to Corbyn’s long, documented history of anti-Semitism. The left’s blind spot in this regard can still be fixed. But we need leaders like yourself to listen."

Ocasio-Cortez addressed his concerns.

I don't think she'll need to look far. Corbyn's anti-Semitic musings, as well of those of his fellow Labour leaders, are well documented. In 2009, Corbyn called Hamas and Hezbollah his “friends.” He posted a Facebook message in 2012 defending an anti-Semitic mural. In 2014, he laid flowers at a cemetery where Palestinian terrorists who murdered Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972 are buried. The Times of Israel has a pretty comprehensive list of other instances.

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Corbyn has also failed to temper the anti-Semitic actions of his fellow Labour leaders. Naz Shah, an MP representing Bradford West, was forced to apologize over a Facebook post that showed her supporting the ethnic cleansing of Israel’s Jewish community.

"I am sincerely sorry for the pain which has been caused, and pledge to redouble my efforts to bring this anxiety to an end," Corbyn said last March.

His attempt at an apology fell short, considering how he decided to spend Passover with an anti-Israel group that calls for the destruction of the Jewish State.

The House Republican Conference said on Monday in an email to supporters that Ocasio-Cortez's friendship with Corbyn is more proof that Democrats are "enabling the rise of anti-Semitism within their caucus." For instance, representatives like Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has a history of making anti-Israel statements.

"The alliance between House Democrats and the Labour Party reflects their shared agenda: hateful rhetoric toward Israel and a total embrace of socialism," the conference said. "When will Democrat leadership stop looking the other way and denounce the members responsible for it?"

Nehorai was at least pleased to see a response from Ocasio-Cortez.