NYC Mayor Questions Israel’s Jewish Character; Israeli Consul Fires Back

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addressed a series of Israel-related issues today (Sunday) in an interview with ABC, including the military aid the United States provides to Israel, its definition as a Jewish state, and the rise in antisemitic incidents in the city.

Asked whether he supports Israel as a Jewish state, he replied: “I think any state that gives privileges to one religion over another is a state that I cannot tell you I support, whether that is Israel, Saudi Arabia, or anywhere else.” He added: “I have said time and again that I support the State of Israel as a state with equal rights.”

Later in the interview, Mamdani criticized American military aid to Israel. In his words, “We have seen Democrats turning out in droves in districts across this city to make clear that they are tired of tens of billions of dollars coming out of our tax money to violate international law, to kill thousands of civilians.” 

Mamdani was also asked about the rise in antisemitic incidents in New York City. He said: “We have seen antisemitism rise in this city. We have seen the fact that Jewish New Yorkers make up a minority of our city’s population, and yet continue to make up the majority of hate-crime victims in this city. That is something that is unacceptable, that is something we will never accept as just a part of life, that is something that must be fought and uprooted from each of the five boroughs.”

Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis responded: “We do not need your recognition as the state of the Jewish people. In the Declaration of Independence of the state of the Jewish people, full equality was guaranteed to all its citizens — and that has been the reality since the day we were founded.” Akunis added: “I warn again that Mamdani’s inflammatory words will end in very serious and violent acts — against Jewish communities in the city and the Israelis who live there.”