New York Politician Accused of Anti-Semitism in October 7 Anniversary Statement

New York City politician Zohran Mamdani's statement commemorating the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks has been sharply criticized as deeply anti-Semitic and supportive of terrorism. The assessment comes from Liel Leibovitz, editor at large for Tablet and a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, in an opinion piece published by the New York Post.

Mamdani's statement, which initially acknowledged the 1,100 Israelis killed and 251 abducted in the attacks, is described by Leibovitz as mere "throat-clearing." The core of the mayor's message, according to the critique, devolved into accusations of "genocide! apartheid! starvation!" and claims of journalists being targeted, which Leibovitz characterizes as "depraved lies" echoing sentiments from those who support Hamas.

Leibovitz contends that Mamdani's remarks were not a mistake but a deliberate appeal to his political base, particularly those who align with anti-Israel and anti-Semitic views. The piece suggests that Mamdani's stance reassures individuals who have been seen protesting with Hamas and Hezbollah flags.

The critique further points to Mamdani's recent proposal to combat anti-Semitism, which includes allocating $6 million to a group partnered with Linda Sarsour, a figure who has faced accusations of discriminating against Jewish members of the Women's March. Leibovitz interprets this as contradictory and further evidence of Mamdani siding with "America's sworn enemies" rather than Western efforts to counter violence.

Leibovitz argues that such statements place New York's Jewish population, and indeed all New Yorkers, in a difficult position when the official entrusted with their safety is perceived as aligning with those promoting violence. The author calls for New Yorkers to hold Mamdani accountable for his alleged prejudice and to work towards his removal from office in 2029.