Font Size: Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized President Joe Biden Wednesday for saying that Israel “has a right to defend itself” amid a wave of violence between Israel and Gaza. The congresswoman claimed that Israel started the violence, and seemed to refer to the apartment dispute in Sheikh Jarrah and Israeli actions to disperse a violent riot on the Al-Aqsa Mosque as some of the main causes. “Blanket statements like these w/ little context or acknowledgement of what precipitated this cycle of violence – namely the expulsions of Palestinians and attacks on Al Aqsa – dehumanize Palestinians & imply the US will look the other way at human rights violations. It’s wrong,” the congresswoman claimed.