Israel's foreign ministry has launched a fierce condemnation of Zohran Mamdani, accusing the newly inaugurated mayor of New York of stoking antisemitism on his very first day in office. The diplomatic row erupted after Mayor Mamdani moved to rescind several executive orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams.
‘Antisemitic Gasoline on an Open Fire’
In a sharply worded post on the social media platform X, Israel's foreign ministry stated: “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. This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
The actions in question were part of a broader sweep of executive orders Mamdani issued on Thursday, aimed at providing what his office called “a fresh start for the incoming administration.” The orders targeted directives Adams had put in place after his 2024 indictment on federal corruption charges, which were later controversially dropped.
What Mamdani Revoked
Among the revoked measures was an order that had adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. The Adams administration had stated this definition included “demonizing Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism.”
A second revoked order had prohibited city officials overseeing New York’s pension system from making investment decisions aligned with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which Mamdani has publicly supported. A third directive, now scrapped, had instructed the New York Police Commissioner, Jessica Tisch, to evaluate proposals for regulating protests near houses of worship. This followed demonstrations outside an Upper East Side synagogue that had sparked claims of antisemitism.
Defending the original measures last month, Eric Adams had said, “New York City has always been this nation’s melting pot, but too often, over the last few years, we’ve seen those of Jewish ancestry be singled out and targeted.” He said the orders aimed to “protect New Yorkers’ tax dollars and protect their right to practice their religion without harassment.”
Mamdani’s Reassurance and Critics’ Concerns
In his inaugural address, Mamdani, a democratic socialist, sought to reassure Jewish New Yorkers, referencing his own upbringing. “Where else could a Muslim kid like me grow up eating bagels and lox?” he asked. He was sworn in on the Qur’an by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a Jewish New Yorker, and was joined by Jewish religious leaders who had not endorsed his campaign.
“I know there are some who view this administration with distrust or disdain,” Mamdani said. “And while only action can change minds, I promise you this: if you are a New Yorker, I am your mayor. Regardless of whether we agree, I will protect you, celebrate with you, mourn alongside you, and never, not for a second, hide from you.”
Following the issuance of his orders, Mamdani told reporters he would keep open the recently created Office to Combat Antisemitism, stating, “That is an issue that we take very seriously.” However, he offered no commitment to reinstating the IHRA definition.
Jewish community leaders expressed deep concern. William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, called Mamdani’s move “a troubling indicator of the direction in which he is leading the city, just one day at the helm.” Speaking to the Forward, Daroff warned it “diminishes New York City’s ability to recognize and respond to antisemitism at a time when incidents continue to rise.”
The controversy sets the stage for a tense relationship between the new mayor’s administration and pro-Israel advocates, highlighting the deeply polarising nature of the BDS movement and definitions of antisemitism in American politics.
