Jan 3, 2026 12:43 AM
(This post was last modified: Jan 3, 2026 12:44 AM by C C.)
Israeli government accuses Mamdani of antisemitism over canceled orders
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/nyreg...rders.html
INTRO: The government of Israel accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York of antisemitism on Friday, following his decision the day before to cancel two executive orders issued by his predecessor that had barred city agencies from boycotting Israel and defined some criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and the statement, made on social media by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was an extraordinary accusation of anti-Jewish animosity leveled at the new mayor of that city by the leadership of the Jewish state.
“On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” the Foreign Ministry wrote on X. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
Israel’s consul general in New York, Ofir Akunis, amplified that attack, saying Mr. Mamdani’s decision posed “an immediate threat to the safety of Jewish communities in New York City and could lead to an increase in violent antisemitic attacks throughout the city.”
Mr. Mamdani did not directly address the Israeli government’s accusation at a news conference on Friday. But he said “protecting Jewish New Yorkers is going to be a focus of my administration” and that his action on executive orders had given it “a clean slate to get to work on delivering a new era for New Yorkers.”
“My administration will also be marked by a city government that will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division,” Mr. Mamdani said. “And that includes fighting the scourge of antisemitism, by actually funding hate crime prevention, by celebrating our neighbors and by practicing a politics of universality.”
Mr. Mamdani has been a strong critic of Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians throughout his public life, and the Israeli government has denounced him before. As recently as October, it described him as someone who “excuses terror and normalizes antisemitism” and said he “stands with Jews only when they are dead.” (MORE - details)
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/nyreg...rders.html
INTRO: The government of Israel accused Mayor Zohran Mamdani of New York of antisemitism on Friday, following his decision the day before to cancel two executive orders issued by his predecessor that had barred city agencies from boycotting Israel and defined some criticism of Israel as antisemitic.
New York City is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, and the statement, made on social media by the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was an extraordinary accusation of anti-Jewish animosity leveled at the new mayor of that city by the leadership of the Jewish state.
“On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” the Foreign Ministry wrote on X. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
Israel’s consul general in New York, Ofir Akunis, amplified that attack, saying Mr. Mamdani’s decision posed “an immediate threat to the safety of Jewish communities in New York City and could lead to an increase in violent antisemitic attacks throughout the city.”
Mr. Mamdani did not directly address the Israeli government’s accusation at a news conference on Friday. But he said “protecting Jewish New Yorkers is going to be a focus of my administration” and that his action on executive orders had given it “a clean slate to get to work on delivering a new era for New Yorkers.”
“My administration will also be marked by a city government that will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division,” Mr. Mamdani said. “And that includes fighting the scourge of antisemitism, by actually funding hate crime prevention, by celebrating our neighbors and by practicing a politics of universality.”
Mr. Mamdani has been a strong critic of Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians throughout his public life, and the Israeli government has denounced him before. As recently as October, it described him as someone who “excuses terror and normalizes antisemitism” and said he “stands with Jews only when they are dead.” (MORE - details)