AOC schooled by biblical scholar over 'inflammatory' message claiming Christ was Palestinian

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A noted biblical scholar Paula Fredriksen is blasting left-leaning politicians including representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez aka AOC for floating the idea that Jesus Christ was a Palestinian calling the notion “inflammatory” and saying liberals have “mischaracterized reality.”

Boston University scholar wrote in an op-ed piece published by the Washington Post last week, "This Easter, let’s not try to pretend Jesus was a ‘Palestinian Jew." 

AOC claims Jesus was born in 'modern-day Palestine' 

Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seized on the trend in a social media post on Christmas Day.

"In the story of Christmas, Christ was born in modern-day Palestine under the threat of a government engaged in a massacre of innocents," Ocasio-Cortez wrote, referencing Jews who lived in the land over 2,000 years ago under Roman control.

"He was part of a targeted population being indiscriminately killed to protect an unjust leader’s power," she said. 

"Thousands of years later, right-wing forces are violently occupying Bethlehem as similar stories unfold for today’s Palestinians, so much so that the Christian community in Bethlehem has canceled this year’s Christmas Eve celebrations out of both [fear for their] safety and respect," she added.

Boston University professor slams AOC's claim Jesus was Palestinian 

Fredriksen fact-checked the congresswoman's claims by pointing out that Christ's birthplace has been under "Palestinian Authority" for decades.

Fredriksen argued, "But Bethlehem has been administered by the Palestinian Authority since 1995. Once a significant majority there, the Christian population plunged from 86 per cent in 1950 to less than 12 per cent in 2016."

The historian said that a full century after the crucifixion of Christ, the word "Palestine" originated in Rome. She claimed that this made the attempts to use Jesus' identity as a Palestinian as a means of attacking Israel not only "inflammatory," but also "historically false."

"For two millennia, Jews have been blamed for Jesus’ execution by the Romans; casting him as a Palestinian just stokes the fires of hate, using Jesus against Jews once again," Fredriksen wrote.

She went on to say, "It is, further, an act of cultural and political appropriation and a clever rhetorical move. It rips Jesus out of his Jewish context. And it rips 1st-century Jews and 21st-century Israeli Jews out of their ancestral homeland, turning them into interlopers. This is polemic masquerading as history." 

AOC wasn't the only one making this argument most recently. Catholic priest Father Edward Beck also made a similar comparison on CNN on Christmas Day per Fox News. 

"I think the message of Christmas is that God enters into it with us and we're not alone in it," Beck said.

He added, "What I'm so struck by is that the story of Christmas is about a Palestinian Jew- how often do you find those words put together? A Palestinian Jew born into a time when his country was occupied, right? They can't find a place for her to even give birth, his mother. They're homeless. They eventually have to flee as refugees into Egypt, no less. I mean, you can't make up the parallels to our current world situation right now."

Internet slams AOC for claiming Christ as Palestinian 

Apart from the Biblical scholar, AOC's statement got backlash from the internet too. A Facebook user said, "The best thing for her is to keep her uneducated mouth closed!" 

The next user said, "If brains were dynamite this woman wouldn't have enough to blow her nose. I just still can't get over the amount of stupidity that flows from her mouth. And

yet she was elected and makes decisions that affect people's lives. Very scary." 

Another user said, "Those who choose to twist and manipulate the truths of the Bible for their own political agenda will ultimately face the consequences of their actions. It's a dangerous game to play with the Word of God and it's clear that the Squad needs a lesson in biblical scholarship before they speak on such matters." 

The next user said, "You all in NY keep voting for her and expecting change, this is what you get." A user said, "Reading the bible could be extremely beneficial to her. As a matter of fact

reading our Constitution would be also. Heck, reading some children's books might even help." 

A user said, "The Squad A Twisted Insane Reprobate Mind." Another user said, "Amazing they keep electing these nuts!." A user said, "I'm so sick of her. At this point, she should realize that facts and truth are not the reality we live in." 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.