'Deeply sorry' AOC explains why she voted 'present' on increasing funding for Iron Dome

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was expected to vote "No" on a proposition to fund the replenishment of Israel's famous Iron Dome missile defense system on Friday, but instead voted "present".

Later, the Representative who had previously and publicly defended other statements comparing the US and Israel to terrorist organizations, released a statement on her website, which talks about the bill and the issues surrounding it, and stating her ostensible pro-Gaza Strip and West Bank sentiments. However, the statement at no point actually explains why she didn't vote as expected, but simply criticizes the process itself.

"I wept at the complete lack of care for the human beings that are impacted by these decisions, I wept at an institution choosing a path of maximum volatility and minimum consideration for its own political convenience."

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) further criticized Congress for "doing nothing to address or raise the persistent human rights abuses against the Palestinian people, and that this imbalance of power must be centered in any honest conversation about Israel and Palestine – in addition to the many other governments we militarily fund with a pattern of human rights abuses."

She then went on to describe the process of voting on the bill as a "tinderbox of vitriol, disingenuous framing, deeply racist accusations and depictions, and a lack of substantive discussion on the matter," going on to talk somewhat incongruously about how she feels that the US shouldn't give "unconditional aid" to Israel, despite her current vote going against her own previous advice on the matter.

AOC closed off her statement with:

"To those I have disappointed - I am deeply sorry. To those who believe this reasoning is insufficient or cowardice – I understand. To those who asked me to quell the volatility of this moment in our community …I hope we can take this moment and opportunity to more deeply engage in and grow a true, substantive movement of community support for human rights around the world –which includes cherishing and respecting the human rights of Palestinian people."