By Roseanne Tabachnik/TPS • 17 April, 2019
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Sunday that cutting US aid to Israel should be taken into consideration following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election on April 9.
She declared her statement on Yahoo News’ Skullduggery podcast after she was asked whether US policy towards Israel should change amid the election results.
“I think so,” Ocasio-Cortez replied. “I think these are part of conversations we are having in our caucus, but I think what we are really seeing is an ascent of authoritarianism across the world.”
The congresswoman compared Netanyahu to Trump, calling him a “Trump-like” figure.
Ocasio-Cortez noted that at this point cutting US military aid to Israel was “certainly on the table.”
The US provides Israel with $3.8 billion in military aid annually, following an agreement led by former president Barack Obama.
She vowed to play a crucial role in turning this idea into US policy. “I hope to play a facilitating role in this conversation and a supportive role in this conversation,” she added.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) criticized Ocasio-Cortez on Monday for her anti-Israel comments.
“We are pleased Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recognizes she is NOT a leader on Israel in Congress,” the organization said in a Facebook post.
The organization added, “US-Israel ties must supersede politics.”