Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party's likely nominee for New York City mayor in 2025, has been known for being a vocal critic of Israel and an advocate for Palestinian rights.
After Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Mamdani denounced Israel's military response and criticized the people attacked, The Jerusalem Post reported.
He has said he believes Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, the BBC reported, and he backs the boycott movement targeting Israel, according to The Times of Israel.
Mamdani has also said he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the he came to New York City despite there being no arrest warrant for Netanyahu in the U.S., the Post reported.
On a podcast last week, Mamdani even defended the use of the Palestinian phrase "Globalize the Intifada."
In 2023, the New York state assemblyman introduced a bill to end the tax-exempt status of New York charities with ties to Israeli settlements that violate international human rights law, The New York Times reported.
As a mayoral candidate, though, Mamdani has said there is no room for antisemitism in New York City. He has drawn a distinction between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, adding he would increase funding to combat hate crimes.
That hasn't stopped Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, from warning New York City Jews of what he sees as the danger of the 33-year-old self-described democratic socialist becoming mayor.
"Mamdani's election is the greatest existential threat to a metropolitan Jewish population since the election of the notorious antisemite Karl Lueger in Vienna," Schneier said. "Jewish leaders must come together as a united force to prevent a mass Jewish Exodus from New York City."
As the primary election drew near, Mamdani tried to soften his stance on Israel.
"Yes, like all nations, I believe it has a right to exist — and a responsibility also to uphold international law," Mamdani said Monday on CBS's "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert."
Earlier this month, however, Mamdani said he was "not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else."
He added, "I think that in the way that we have in this country, equality should be enshrined in every country in the world. That's my belief," the BBC reported.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.