New York City's Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has won a resounding victory over anti-Palestinian and pro-Israeli forces, rejecting the smear campaign that labeled him an antisemite.
In the final days of the election, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl from the prominent Central Synagogue in Manhattan attempted to besmirch Mamdani's reputation by accusing him of mainstreaming "abhorrent antisemitism." However, her claims were based solely on his criticism of Israel. The Israeli military has been known to train New York Police Department officers, and there are intelligence-sharing agreements between the NYPD and Israeli forces.
Buchdahl decried Mamdani's claims about genocide in Gaza as "false," but she failed to cite any actual evidence or credible sources to back up her claims. In reality, numerous leading genocide scholars and every major international human rights organization have validated Mamdani's accusations.
Mamdani's election is a significant victory for New York City's working-class constituents, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city plagued by poverty, inequality, and a lack of access to basic necessities like healthcare and affordable housing. The fact that young Jewish New Yorkers overwhelmingly supported Mamdani, as did some powerful Jewish politicians in the city and country, should have long since made it clear that his criticism of Israel was not motivated by antisemitism.
Instead of setting an example for how to support Jewish New Yorkers without conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism, Buchdahl's attempt to smear Mamdani only served to highlight the deep-seated prejudices and Islamophobia that have been festering in the city for years. The fact that many older Jewish voters backed the slanders against Mamdani is a disturbing reminder of how far we still have to go in overcoming these entrenched biases.
Mamdani's victory also offers hope for Palestinian solidarity, as he has vowed to uphold commitments to supporting and protecting New York's Jewish communities while also standing up for Palestinian rights. As mayor, he should continue to challenge the false narratives that have been used to discredit him and instead focus on building a more just and equitable society for all.
In short, Mamdani's election is a major setback for pro-Israel forces who have been trying to silence dissenting voices in the city for years. It is also a reminder that the line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism is often blurred by those who seek to exploit these differences for their own purposes. As we move forward, it will be crucial to continue to push back against these smears and to support leaders like Mamdani who are willing to take a stand in defense of human rights and social justice.
In the final days of the election, Rabbi Angela Buchdahl from the prominent Central Synagogue in Manhattan attempted to besmirch Mamdani's reputation by accusing him of mainstreaming "abhorrent antisemitism." However, her claims were based solely on his criticism of Israel. The Israeli military has been known to train New York Police Department officers, and there are intelligence-sharing agreements between the NYPD and Israeli forces.
Buchdahl decried Mamdani's claims about genocide in Gaza as "false," but she failed to cite any actual evidence or credible sources to back up her claims. In reality, numerous leading genocide scholars and every major international human rights organization have validated Mamdani's accusations.
Mamdani's election is a significant victory for New York City's working-class constituents, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city plagued by poverty, inequality, and a lack of access to basic necessities like healthcare and affordable housing. The fact that young Jewish New Yorkers overwhelmingly supported Mamdani, as did some powerful Jewish politicians in the city and country, should have long since made it clear that his criticism of Israel was not motivated by antisemitism.
Instead of setting an example for how to support Jewish New Yorkers without conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism, Buchdahl's attempt to smear Mamdani only served to highlight the deep-seated prejudices and Islamophobia that have been festering in the city for years. The fact that many older Jewish voters backed the slanders against Mamdani is a disturbing reminder of how far we still have to go in overcoming these entrenched biases.
Mamdani's victory also offers hope for Palestinian solidarity, as he has vowed to uphold commitments to supporting and protecting New York's Jewish communities while also standing up for Palestinian rights. As mayor, he should continue to challenge the false narratives that have been used to discredit him and instead focus on building a more just and equitable society for all.
In short, Mamdani's election is a major setback for pro-Israel forces who have been trying to silence dissenting voices in the city for years. It is also a reminder that the line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism is often blurred by those who seek to exploit these differences for their own purposes. As we move forward, it will be crucial to continue to push back against these smears and to support leaders like Mamdani who are willing to take a stand in defense of human rights and social justice.