Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is getting dragged after trying to compare Jesus to Palestinians and criticizing Israel.
In an Instragam story on Christmas Eve, she wrote, “In the story of Christmas, Christ was born in modern-day Palestine under the threat of a government engaged in a massacre of innocents. He was part of a targeted population being indiscriminately killed to protect an unjust leader’s power.”
Her first sentence was in reference to Jews who lived in Bethlehem under the control of a Roman empire.
“Thousands of years later, right-wing forces are violently occupying Bethlehem as similar stories unfold for today’s Palestinians, so much so that the Christian community in Bethlehem has canceled this year’s Christmas Eve celebrations out of both [fear for their] safety and respect,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
“The entire story of Christmas and Christ himself is about standing with the poor and powerless, the marginalized and maligned, the refugees and immigrants, the outcast and misunderstood without exception. This high Christian holiday is about honoring the precious sanctity of a family that, if the story were to unfold today, would be Jewish Palestinians,” she added.
She concluded her message with, “Merry Christmas. May there be peace on Earth, amen.”
A senior political reporter at The Forward, Jacob Kornbluh brought Ocasio-Cortez’s remarks to X, slamming her for not mentioning the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7 or its victims.
“AOC describes Israel as a ‘violent right wing occupying force’ in Christmas post. No mention of Hamas terror, the victims of Oct. 7 attack,” he wrote on X, sharing a screenshot of the lawmaker’s post.
AOC describes Israel as a ‘violent right wing occupying force’ in Christmas post. No mention of Hamas terror, the victims of Oct. 7 attack. pic.twitter.com/oajJnYLAOF
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) December 24, 2023
Pro-Israel activist Andrea Karshan commented on the lawmaker’s rhetoric, pointing out that some people are getting “so social justice political” about Christmas instead of celebrating it.
“I wish people would just enjoy Christmas and stop getting so social justice political about it. I am so glad that when I was Christian I had a blast on Christmas and didn’t waste my time engaging in this nonsense. It’s so silly,” she wrote.
I wish people would just enjoy Christmas and stop getting so social justice political about it. I am so glad that when I was Christian I had a blast on Christmas and didn't waste my time engaging in this nonsense. It's so silly.
— Andrea Karshan | #JusticeforMalkiRoth (@karshanandrea) December 24, 2023
“Pathetic that she uses our holiest holiday to get publicity for herself. Why can’t she shut her mouth for one day, she is being very disrespectful,” an X user wrote.
Pathetic that she uses our holiest holiday to get publicity for herself. Why can't she shut her mouth for one day, she is being very disrespectful. https://t.co/QLAogfodwb
— Franklin (@Jeffrey93153738) December 25, 2023
Another X user provided another perspective to the story, saying, “Mary and Joseph didn’t flee; they’d returned to Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown, as required to be counted for the census. And her claim that children in Gaza are “especially” holy, just shows her hatred and how she uses division for votes.”
Mary and Joseph didn’t flee; they’d returned to Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown, as required to be counted for the census. And her claim that children in Gaza are “especially” holy, just shows her hatred and how she uses division for votes.
— anne (@stxnpx) December 25, 2023
