Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, is facing blowback from Republicans after saying a congressional measure allowing for expanded defense technology cooperation between U.S. and Israel's military represents an "existential threat" to U.S. democracy.

The provision, part of a $1.15 trillion military spending package, is called the "U.S.-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative," or Section 219.

The bill directs the Department of Defense to designate an "executive agent" to synchronize efforts between the two countries "to expand and accelerate bilateral defense technology research, development, testing, evaluation, integration, and industrial cooperation."

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan  and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan  and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel

The package, collectively known as the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, passed the House in a 216 to 212 vote with six Democrats voting "yes" and seven Republicans voting "no."

A day before the vote, on July 21, Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent critic of the Israeli government's military actions and policies in Gaza, said the provision would "merge parts of our military" with the (Israel Defense Force)" in a post on X.

"This amendment is an existential threat to American sovereignty and democracy," she wrote. "Every member of Congress must vote NO."

Fellow New York Rep. Mike Lawler was quick to call Ocasio-Cortez out, asking her to "Stop stoking Jew hatred and do better."

"Good grief, you are either obtuse or intentionally lying. We are not merging our military with the IDF," the Republican wrote on X. "As we do with many of our allies, we enter into cooperative agreements, share intelligence, develop technology and ammunitions, and conduct military exercises together."

Trump's Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin called Ocasio-Cortez's assertion "FALSE" in an X post.

"Instead of merging the part of your brain that hates Jews with the part of your brain concocting your daily lies, you should try merging the part of your brain responsible for reading bill text with the part of your brain responsible for critical thinking," he wrote.

Ocasio-Cortez had not responded to Lawler or Zeldin late Thursday afternoon. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: AOC says bill would merge the US and Israeli militaries. Republicans react