New York’s self-declared democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has a tendency to pal around with public figures who openly espouse anti-Semitic views, including the organizers of the leftist Women’s March and fellow Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
Now, it seems Ocasio-Cortez has added a bit of international flavor to her anti-Semitic coterie, as postings to social media over the weekend revealed that the New York representative stands alongside the openly anti-Semitic leader of the U.K.’s leftist Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn.
International socialists unite
Ocasio-Cortez and Corbyn both issued high praise for each other on Twitter after speaking together over the phone over the weekend.
For his part, Corbyn wrote that he was glad to speak with Ocasio-Cortez, whom he touted for taking on “billionaires, polluters and migrant baiters.”
He wrote on Sunday:
Great to speak to @AOC on the phone this evening and hear first hand how she’s challenging the status quo.
Let’s build a movement across borders to take on the billionaires, polluters and migrant baiters, and support a happier, freer and cleaner planet.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) February 3, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez responded with a tweet of her own.
It was an honor to share such a lovely and wide-reaching conversation with you, @jeremycorbyn!
Also honored to share a great hope in the peace, prosperity, + justice that everyday people can create when we uplift one another across class, race, + identity both at home & abroad. https://t.co/7qnz42I8du
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 3, 2019
A history of anti-Semitism
To be sure, there was nothing patently anti-Semitic within those tweets — but that doesn’t excuse Corbyn’s well-known history of taking a dim view of Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
An article recently published by The New Yorker reported that Corbyn has consistently sided with the Palestinian people and other Middle Eastern groups against the nation of Israel, and he has associated with people who espouse vehemently anti-Semitic views or Holocaust-denier theories.
Corbyn has also described the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah as “friends.”
Moreover, three major Jewish newspapers in the U.K. — The Jewish Chronicle, Jewish News, and The Jewish Telegraph — have all characterized Corbyn and his Labour Party as an “existential threat” to Jewish people in the British kingdom, citing Corbyn’s anti-Semitic associations and a rise in anti-Semitic hate crimes by members of Corbyn’s party.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may not have expressed anti-Semitic views very much thus far — besides describing Israel as an “occupying force” in Palestinian lands — but she is increasingly surrounding herself with people who speak openly against the Jewish people and nation of Israel. And that should be a cause for concern among those who love and support the Jewish people and their national homeland.
