Potential Clash Between DSA and AOC Looming?
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) held its biennial national convention in Chicago last weekend, where a censure resolution accusing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) of "tacit support for Zionism" was presented but not debated[1]. The resolution, which remains pending, reflects ongoing conflicts within the DSA between its hardline anti-Zionist faction and AOC's more moderate, though critical, positions on Israel.
The DSA's criticism of AOC stems from her perceived support of the Democratic establishment and insufficient opposition to Israeli policies. The DSA leadership has expressed disapproval of her positions, particularly citing her endorsements of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, her support for Israel’s right to self-defense, and her selective opposition to U.S. weapons transfers to Israel[1].
Despite these criticisms, Ocasio-Cortez has been more critical of Israel than most of her fellow House Democrats. She has boycotted Netanyahu’s 2024 speech to Congress and called for halting arms transfers to Israel[2]. However, her stance has not aligned fully with the DSA’s hardline anti-Zionist stance, which has fueled the current internal strife.
The censure resolution points to internal tensions within the DSA, which is at the height of its political power. The DSA has endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel and has recently created a series of standards for anti-Israel politics that all members must follow[1].
Ocasio-Cortez is no longer endorsed by the national DSA organization, but she remains endorsed by the New York City chapter. The DSA's leadership body, the National Political Committee, has criticized her stance on U.S. funding for Israel's missile defense system[1].
Other DSA members are critical of Ocasio-Cortez's position on Israel and would like to see her adopt a position closer to that of New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who supports the BDS movement and calls for an end to all military aid to Israel[1]. Ethan Eblaghie, a co-author of the resolution and a member of the DSA's New York City chapter, stated that the resolution aims to indicate clearly to Ocasio-Cortez's office that the DSA feels strongly that her positions are unacceptable and that for a productive working relationship, they would like to see her take stronger positions[1].
However, Eblaghie also mentioned that he doesn't think Ocasio-Cortez is at risk of being expelled from the DSA[1]. The DSA has not been a pro-Israel organization for a long time and has taken increasingly strong anti-Zionist stances over the past decade[1].
As of August 2025, the DSA has not yet censured Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez[1]. A representative for Ocasio-Cortez didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. For more insights, read the related article titled "The real story behind DSA's decision to unendorse AOC".
[1] Source: The Intercept [2] Source: The Hill
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