AOC, Bowman lead opposition to House resolution condemning Iran attack on Israel
Far-left New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman were two of 14 House lawmakers to vote against a resolution condemning Iran’s unprecedented drone and missile attack against Israel.
The resolution overwhelmingly passed in a 404-14 vote Thursday, with all but one of the “nays” coming from Democrats.
In addition to Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman, Democrats Cori Bush of Missouri, Greg Casar of Texas, Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Hank Johnson of Georgia, Barbara Lee of California, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan voted against the measure.
Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the lone Republican to oppose the resolution, which also “reaffirms and supports Israel’s right to self-defense” and “stands with Israel as it defends itself against Iran’s attack and seeks to re-establish deterrence against Iran and its proxies.”
Another provision in the resolution “reaffirms the United States commitment to Israel’s security, including through security assistance and defense sales.”
Late Saturday, Iran unleashed 320 drones and missiles against Israel in retaliation for a strike against an Iranian facility in Damascus that killed two top Tehran generals.
The US, UK, French and Jordanian militaries helped Israel intercept 99% of the rockets and drones, with the remainder causing minimal damage and only one confirmed injury.
Israel has yet to respond to Iran and the Jewish state’s Western allies have warned Jersualem to limit the size and scope of its retaliation.
All 13 Democrats who opposed Thursday resolution have criticized Israel over its war against Hamas, triggered by the bloody Oct. 7 terror attack that killed an estimated 1,200 people — including 33 Americans.
Ocasio-Cortez accused Israel last month of committing “genocide” against Palestinians, while Bowman referred to Israel as an “apartheid” state in November and called reports of rape and child murder during the Oct. 7 attack a “lie” in November.
Meanwhile, Massie has a history of voting against such resolutions in light of his staunch non-interventionist philosophy.
In November, he caused a stir when he was the sole lawmaker to vote against a resolution affirming Israel’s right to exist. Tlaib, the first Palestinian- American member of Congress, voted “present.”
“I’m voting No on the resolution because it equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism,” Massie explained at the time. “Antisemitism is deplorable, but expanding it to include criticism of Israel is not helpful.”
The Post reached out to Massie’s office for comment on his latest vote Thursday.
Lawmakers in the House are set this weekend to vote on four foreign aid packages, including a $26.38 billion Israel assistance bill.
