Democrats in NYC Back Israel Critic for Mayor

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    In a surprising turn of events, New York City Democrats have backed Zohran Mamdani, a fierce critic of Israel, as their candidate for mayor. This decision signals a shift in the priorities of a community historically loyal to the Democratic Party, raising concerns among members of the Jewish population in America’s most Jewish city.

    Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist, has made an impressive mark against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, demonstrating that opposing Israel is no longer a taboo in Democratic primaries. While Mamdani has resisted recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, criticized the term “global intifada,” and supported economic boycotts against Israel, he still found favor with significant segments of the city’s Jewish voters.

    His electoral success reflects shifts in ideology among American Jews since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which sparked Israel’s subsequent incursion into Gaza. Many Democratic voters, including those from Jewish backgrounds, have grown more critical of Israel and its leaders, especially Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A growing number challenge the longstanding view that being critical of Israel equates to antisemitism.

    However, Mamdani’s advance has also heightened fears about safety and diminishing Jewish influence in a city witnessing a surge in anti-Jewish hate crimes. Last year, Jews became the target of more than half the hate crimes in New York City. Rabbi Shimon Hecht from Congregation B’nai Jacob in Brooklyn expressed these apprehensions, remarking on conversations with congregants hopeful for Mamdani’s defeat in the upcoming November elections. Mamdani will face Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and possibly Cuomo if he remains in the contest.

    Political experts like veteran strategist Hank Sheinkopf caution that these elections may foreshadow a broader decline in Jewish influence across Democratic political landscapes nationally. “It’s the end of Jewish New York as we know it,” Sheinkopf observed, casting the city as a microcosm for national trends.

    Israel was central to the campaign narrative, with Mamdani’s main adversary, Andrew Cuomo, defining antisemitism and support for Israel as crucial election issues. Nevertheless, many Mamdani backers rejected Cuomo’s approach, likening it to President Trump’s tactics of equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Some Mamdani supporters saw the election results as voters dismissing Cuomo’s claim that Mamdani posed a danger to New York’s Jewish community.

    For voters like Aiyana Leong Knauer, a Brooklyn bartender, the election was about prioritizing affordable living over divisive politics. Others, too, favored Mamdani’s stances on Palestinian issues, like Beth Miller from Jewish Voice for Peace Action, who noted strong Jewish support for Mamdani because of his advocacy for Palestinian rights.

    Support for Israel seems to be waning, as illustrated by recent polls. A Pew Research Center poll in March found a majority of Americans now hold unfavorable opinions of Israel, with Democratic views particularly negative compared to Republicans.

    The issue of Israel extended beyond the mayoral contest. In Brooklyn, City Councilwoman Shahana Hanif, known for her Palestinian advocacy, triumphed over challenger Maya Kornberg despite criticism and increased financial support from pro-Israel factions. Developer Ramon Maislen, a vocal opponent of Hanif, expressed frustration over the local community’s apathy towards antisemitism.

    Mamdani has promised to combat antisemitism but has courted controversy by refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada.” Though seen by many as inciting violence, Mamdani sees it as advocating for Palestinian human rights. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he stated he wouldn’t censor speech and vowed to protect Jewish New Yorkers.

    He supports the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, despite criticism from the Anti-Defamation League, which labels it antisemitic and claims it seeks to undermine Israel’s legitimacy. Mamdani also vowed to arrest Netanyahu should the Israeli leader enter New York City.

    In his victory speech, Mamdani acknowledged criticism but affirmed his commitment to his principles. He expressed a willingness to understand dissenting perspectives, signaling an intent to engage constructively with those who disagree with his views.