New York’s Mayor-Elect Faces Israel Backlash

New York City’s new mayor says Israel has a right to exist — but refuses to call it a Jewish state, and once said on video that Israel “is not a place, it is not a country.”

Quick Take

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor-elect, has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, calling religious hierarchies in any country something he cannot support.
A resurfaced video shows Mamdani saying “Israel is not a place, it is not a country” — a comment he later said was rhetorical, calling Israel “an idea” in the minds of many people.
Jewish leaders and organizations have called his stance “dangerous” and “disqualifying,” while some progressive voices argue he is simply applying a consistent principle about equal rights.
Mamdani says he won’t change his position, even as he prepares to lead a city with one of the largest Jewish populations in the world.

What Mamdani Has Actually Said

Throughout his mayoral campaign, Zohran Mamdani said clearly that Israel has a right to exist. But when debate moderator Jonathan Karl asked him directly — “As a Jewish state?” — Mamdani would not say yes. His answer was “as a state with equal rights.” In a later ABC News interview, he went further, saying, “I believe that any state that privileges one religion over the other is one that I can’t tell you I support, whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.”

A resurfaced video added more fuel to the fire. In the clip, Mamdani says, “Israel is not a place, it is not a country.” His team later said the comment was rhetorical — that he was describing how many people see Israel as an idea rather than a physical state. Critics say that explanation doesn’t hold up, pointing to the plain meaning of his words. The full context of that video has not been independently verified from a primary source.

Jewish Leaders Push Back Hard

The reaction from Jewish community leaders has been sharp. Multiple organizations labeled Mamdani’s stance both “disqualifying” and “dangerous.” Reform Rabbi Angela Buchdahl accused him of promoting “the age-old antisemitic trope that Jews across the world are the root cause of our problem here.” A New York Times columnist wrote about why Mamdani’s positions frighten Jewish New Yorkers — though the piece also noted there is no public evidence that Mamdani holds antisemitic views in the traditional sense.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer accused Mamdani of “dangerously laundering anti-Semitism” by calling the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) “monsters” — language critics say echoes old conspiracy theories about a Jewish “hidden hand.” Mamdani defended the word by quoting philosopher Antonio Gramsci, but he did not directly address the specific accusation. After winning the Democratic primary, Mamdani said he would not change his views on Israel, even under pressure from Jewish community leaders.

Why This Matters Beyond New York

New York City has the largest Jewish population of any city outside Israel. The mayor’s position on Israel is not just symbolic — it shapes city policy, funding decisions, and the tone of public debate. Mamdani’s stance puts him at odds with much of the city’s Jewish establishment, while winning support from progressive voters who back Palestinian rights. That split reflects a wider divide in the Democratic Party that has grown sharper since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.

⚖️ LEGAL WATCH: MAMDANI WANTS NETANYAHU ARREST REVIEW

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration is reviewing whether it could arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits New York for the U.N. General Assembly in September.

Mamdani told The New York… pic.twitter.com/zJYa3ilEAG

— Gunnys Adventures (@DerrickSalas9) July 18, 2026

The core dispute comes down to a single phrase. Mamdani says he supports Israel’s right to exist — but only “as a state with equal rights,” not as a Jewish state. Critics say that distinction erases Israel’s identity and purpose as the world’s only Jewish-majority state. Supporters say he is applying a fair, universal standard about religious equality. What is not in dispute: Mamdani has made his position clear, he has won the election, and he says he will not walk it back. New Yorkers — and the country — are watching to see what that means in practice.