NYC Business Leaders Launch Coalition After Mamdani Drops Israel Anti-Boycott Protections

A new business alliance has launched in New York to protect Jewish- and Israeli-owned companies, as concerns grow over rising antisemitism and policy changes under Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The New York–Israeli Chamber of Commerce Coalition brings together major business organizations to defend Israeli-founded firms and Jewish-owned businesses from what its members describe as economic discrimination and a deteriorating business climate in the city.

The coalition’s formation follows a series of actions taken by Mamdani after he assumed office last month. On his first day as mayor, Mamdani revoked two executive orders issued by the previous mayor. One barred city agencies from boycotting Israel, and the other adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism. 

Coalition leaders say those policy reversals, combined with a rise in anti-Israel protests and antisemitic incidents, have created a hostile environment for businesses linked to Israel. “The free enterprise system that made New York City strong and encouraged many Israeli founders to select New York City for US operations is at risk,” said Al Kinel, president of the coalition. “Beyond the economic damage, we are deeply alarmed by the correlation between these policies and the rise in unsafe conditions for our employees and customers.”

The nonprofit coalition includes the Business Council of New York State, the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, and other business and advocacy organizations. Its efforts will focus on both city and state policy, though most Israeli businesses are concentrated in New York City’s five boroughs.

According to data cited by the coalition from the United States–Israel Business Alliance, New York City is home to approximately 676 Israeli-founded companies, including 20 valued at more than $1 billion. Together, those firms employ tens of thousands of people and contribute significant tax revenue to the city’s economy.

Guy Franklin, CEO of Israeli Mapped in NY, said the city hosts the largest Israeli tech ecosystem outside Israel, with Israeli-backed companies deeply integrated into New York’s economy. “These companies aren’t on the sidelines; they are an integral part of New York’s tech ecosystem,” Franklin said, noting their role as employers, investors, and contributors to local communities.

Business leaders also pointed to a rise in pressure campaigns against Israeli-linked firms, including vandalism, protests, and employee demands that companies publicly distance themselves from Israel. “New York City’s strength and growth have always come from its diversity and welcoming of entrepreneurs from around the world,” said Heather Mulligan, president and CEO of the Business Council of New York State. “Israeli-founded businesses are an equally important part of our economy.”

The coalition’s launch comes as some Israeli businesses are already closing their doors. Reunion, a popular Israeli restaurant that has operated for nearly 12 years in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, announced it will shut down this week.

In a statement, the restaurant’s owners cited mounting financial pressures and a hostile environment for Israeli businesses. “Over the past few years, running an independent restaurant has become increasingly challenging,” the owners said. “Rising food and operating costs, along with the realities of being an Israeli restaurant during a very difficult time, have made it impossible for us to continue in a sustainable way.”

Coalition leaders say their goal is to prevent further closures and job losses by pushing to reinstate policies that protect Jewish and Israeli businesses from economic discrimination and antisemitic targeting, warning that New York risks damaging its economy if those concerns are ignored.