AOC knows how to ruin everyone’s day, doesn’t she?
Democrat Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York stirred controversy with a social media post drawing parallels between Jesus and the Palestinian people, while criticizing Israel without mentioning Hamas or their hostages. In her post, Ocasio-Cortez depicted the Christmas story as Christ being born in modern-day Palestine under the threat of a government engaging in the massacre of innocents, referring to Jews over 2,000 years ago under Roman rule. She highlighted the current situation in Bethlehem, suggesting right-wing forces’ occupation and the cancellation of Christmas Eve celebrations due to safety concerns.
Notably, Ocasio-Cortez framed Christmas and Christ’s message as standing with the poor, powerless, marginalized, refugees, immigrants, outcasts, and the misunderstood. This viewpoint faced criticism from various quarters. Jacob Kornbluh, a senior political reporter at The Forward, noted the absence of mention of Hamas terror and the victims of the October 7 attack. Pro-Israel activist Andrea Karshan criticized the injection of social justice politics into Christmas, emphasizing that some people are unable to enjoy the holiday.
Ocasio-Cortez’s involvement in November with 23 Democrats, urging President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken for details on de-escalating violence in the region, was also highlighted. The letter reaffirmed condemnation of Hamas attacks on Israel while expressing concerns about the Israeli response, citing casualty numbers provided by Hamas.
Bethlehem’s decision not to hold traditional Christmas festivities in solidarity with Gaza and ongoing violence, removing decorations “in honor of the martyrs,” sparked further debate. Theologian Jonathan Morris criticized the move as a political statement overshadowing the sacredness of Christmas for Christians in Bethlehem. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Bethlehem city council justified the decision, stating that celebration is inappropriate during a Gaza massacre and West Bank attacks. The complex narrative surrounding the post and subsequent reactions underscores the intricate geopolitical and religious dynamics at play.