New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has a history of criticizing Israel, has dropped out of a memorial event honoring late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
The congresswoman had been scheduled to take part in the October 20th virtual event, which is being organized by the Americans for Peace Now organization to mark the 25th anniversary of Rabin's assassination. It will be hosted by American Jewish actor Mandy Patinkin.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
After initially agreeing to attend the event, Ocasio-Cortez said her participation was under review, following criticism on social media of Rabin and his legacy.
"So AOC is doing a memorial event for Yitzhak Rabin. In the US Rabin is viewed as a liberal peacemaker but Palestinians remember him for his brutal rule suppressing Palestinian protest during the First Intifada, as someone who reportedly ordered the breaking of Palestinian bones," wrote Alex Kane, a writer at the left-wing +972 Magazine.
Hey there - this event and my involvement was presented to my team differently from how it's now being promoted.
Thanks for pointing it out. Taking a look into this now.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) September 25, 2020
A number of pro-Palestinian groups and figures lambasted Ocasio-Cortez as well for agreeing to attend, describing Rabin as a war criminal for repressing the First Intifada as defense minister from 1987-1990, among other allegations.
The Adalah Justice Project, a Palestinian advocacy group in the US, first tweeted Friday that Ocasio-Cortez had pulled out of the Rabin commemoration.
"His legacy is one of violence and dispossession for Palestinians. Thank you AOC for listening to the lived experience of the Palestinian people," the group wrote on Twitter.
Ocasio-Cortez responded Friday by tweeting that Americans for Peace Now had originally presented the event differently to her staff and that she would reconsider participating.
"Hey there − this event and my involvement was presented to my team differently from how it's now being promoted. Thanks for pointing it out. Taking a look into this now."
Former US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro responded on Twitter, saying that if Ocasio-Cortez was "getting some bad advice, or undue pressure, to rethink her participation in a Yitzhak Rabin memorial, I hope she will not back down. Honoring Rabin, an Israeli patriot killed for trying to make peace, in no way detracts from a commitment to Palestinians' rights."
If @AOC is getting some bad advice, or undue pressure, to rethink her participation in a Yitzhak Rabin memorial, I hope she will not back down. Honoring Rabin, an Israeli patriot killed for trying to make peace, in no way detracts from a commitment to Palestinians' rights.
— Dan Shapiro (@DanielBShapiro) September 25, 2020
Rabin's granddaughter, Noa Rothman, also decried the US congresswoman's decision via Twitter, noting it was her late grandfather who said one makes peace with enemies, not with friends. "Due to This brave historical act he was assassinated. But off course Populism is easier," Rothman wrote.
After all, it was my late grandfather Itzhak Rabin, who said: You make peace with your enemies- not with your friends. Due to This brave historical act he was assassinated. But off course Populism is easier. @AOC https://t.co/LU9Mg0PTQC
— נעה רוטמן (@noarothman) September 26, 2020
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
