AOC faces backlash for not voting against Iron Dome funding
Washington DC – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has come under fire from progressives for not voting against Iron Dome funding during a House session on Thursday.
AOC reportedly planned to vote no on bills to give $1 billion to Israel for its Iron Dome defense system, but changed her vote at the last second to "present," essentially abstaining from the decision.
Progressives earlier in the week succeeded in blocking the $1 billion for Israel from a continuing resolution to fund government operations through December.
One day later, Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro introduced a stand-alone bill to provide the funding.
Fellow Squad members Cori Bush, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Ayanna Pressley stuck to their guns and voted no.
They were joined by Democratic Reps. André Carson, Jesús García, Raúl Grijalva, and Marie Newman as well as Republican Rep. Thomas Massie.
AOC appeared to be in tears on the House floor immediately following the vote.
AOC faces sharp criticism
AOC has since received strong backlash from Palestinian activists and the left, who have accused her of cowardice, the Middle East Eye reported.
Some have speculated that AOC's decision not to take a firm stand might be due to possible Senate ambitions.
The New York congresswoman released a four-page statement about the vote on Friday, but she didn't actually explain the reason behind her change in stance.
"It became clear that this vote would risk a severe devolution of the good faith community fabric that allows us to responsibly join in a struggle for human rights and dignity everywhere – from Palestine to The Bronx and Queens," she wrote.
"To those I have disappointed – I am deeply sorry. To those who believe this reasoning is insufficient or cowardice – I understand."
AOC has already faced backlash this month for appearing at the exclusive Met Gala in a "Tax the Rich" dress, which many people on the left saw as hypocritical.
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire