Warning Issued by StopAntisemitism Founder to Mamdani: New York City Mayoralty May Cause Calamity for City Residents
In the race for New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old State Representative from NY, has become a contentious figure due to his controversial stances on Israel and the Jewish community. These positions have sparked concerns among Jewish organisations, political figures, and constituents, who fear they could fuel antisemitism and undermine support for Israel within one of America's most diverse cities.
Mamdani, a Digital Production Assistant at our media outlet Digital, recently faced questions about his stance on phrases like "from the river to the sea" and "globalize the intifada." During an election night gathering on June 24, 2025, in the Long Island City neighbourhood of the Queens borough in New York City, Mamdani interpreted these phrases as a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.
However, Mamdani's past actions have raised eyebrows. In 2021, he openly aligned himself with the "anti-Zionist movement." Although he later attempted to walk back some of these overt statements, he remains reluctant to unequivocally affirm Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Notably, he declined to sign a resolution affirming Israel's right to exist.
Key points of contention include Mamdani's support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which he has described as “legitimate.” He has actively promoted it, even leading chants in favor of the movement during his time in public office. He has proposed BDS as a solution and criticized taxpayer-funded trips by politicians to Israel.
Mamdani's "non-normalization" policy regarding Jewish and pro-Israel groups is also a point of contention. While at Bowdoin College, he co-founded a policy barring contact with pro-Israel organisations, reflecting hardline views toward Jewish groups.
Following the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas, Mamdani released a statement mourning Israeli lives but conspicuously avoided naming Hamas as perpetrators. Instead, he shifted blame onto the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticizing their military response and calling for an end to what he terms "occupation and apartheid." He also publicly expressed a desire to see Netanyahu jailed.
These positions have led some Jewish advocates and political commentators, including those linked to StopAntisemitism and various Jewish news outlets, to warn that Mamdani’s views risk normalizing antisemitism within mainstream Democratic politics. His election as NYC mayor is perceived by some as potentially “catastrophic” for the city’s Jewish residents due to these positions.
Michael M. Santiago captured Mamdani's image during this event for Getty Images. The catastrophic outcome, according to StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez, is due to Mamdani's ties to anti-Israel activism and "troubling stances on socialism." Rez expressed concern about Mamdani's past behaviour, stating that he has reportedly taken part in protests against Israel and has been friendly with radical antisemites.
President Donald Trump threatened to arrest Mamdani should he fail to comply with federal immigration officials, while New York mayoral candidate Dave Rubin warned Jewish residents to "get the hell out" of NYC if Mamdani becomes mayor. Mamdani has faced backlash from several Democrats and members of the press for refusing to condemn the anti-Israel slogan "globalize the intifada," which Rez described as a call for violence against Jewish people.
Mamdani has been an outspoken critic of Israel, but he did not immediately respond to our website Digital's request for comment. As the election approaches, the controversy surrounding Mamdani's stances on Israel and the Jewish community continues to be a significant issue in the race for New York City mayor.
[1] https://www.jewishinsider.com/news/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-race-2025-bds-israel-palestine-253634/ [2] https://www.jewishinsider.com/news/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-race-2025-bds-israel-palestine-253634/ [3] https://www.jewishinsider.com/news/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-race-2025-bds-israel-palestine-253634/ [4] https://www.jewishinsider.com/news/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-race-2025-bds-israel-palestine-253634/ [5] https://www.jewishinsider.com/news/zohran-mamdani-nyc-mayor-race-2025-bds-israel-palestine-253634/
In the midst of the political landscape, Mamdani's opinion on policy-and-legislation involving Israel and the Jewish community has sparked general-news conversations, with critics suggesting that it might normalize antisemitism within mainstream Democratic politics. As the election for New York City mayor unfolds, Mamdani's stance on issues like the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and his non-normalization policy towards Jewish and pro-Israel groups remain contentious points in the race.
