Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani said he would drop a Holocaust remembrance group’s definition of “antisemitism” if he becomes mayor — a turnaround in police that has some Jewish rights advocates on edge.
Mamdani confirmed he would oppose the definition used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance if he becomes mayor, which would dismantle an executive order signed by Mayor Eric Adams in June as part of a push against anti-Jewish hate.
“A Mamdani administration will approach antisemitism in line with the Biden Administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, a strategy that emphasizes education, community engagement, and accountability to reverse the normalization of antisemitism and promote open dialogue,” Mamdani spoksperson Dora Pekec said.
“As Mayor, Zohran will prioritize those same goals.”
Mamdani has slammed Israel as an apartheid state and backs the controversial BDS movement, which aims to boycott, divest and sanction Israel. Claiming the Jewish State’s existence is a “racist endeavor” or an example of apartheid would fall under antisemitism by the IHRA definition’s antisemitism.
The socialist candidate told Bloomberg News last week that he would stop using the IHRA definition of antisemitism because it conflates criticism of Israel and zionism with antisemitism.
“I am someone who has supported and support BDS and nonviolent approaches to address Israeli state violence,” Mamdani told Bloomberg News.
Critics said they weren’t surprised by Mamdani’s stance given his record.
“I consider the BDS movement a form of antisemitism. You’re targeting Israel. Why ‘all Israel all the time,’” said Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis.
He also said he hasn’t heard Mamdani condemn Hamas.
“I’m afraid to hear what definition he will use…In his world, what does it take to be an antisemite? If you can’t condemn Hamas, what is the definition of antisemitism?,” Potasnik said.
Rory Lancman, senior counsel for the Brandeis Center for Human Rights, said “you can’t defeat anti-Semitism without first defining anti-Semitism.”
“The IHRA definition is embraced by almost all of America’s and the world’s Jewish community institutions and leaders — especially those of us in the business of combating anti-Semitism on the front lines every day — because it best captures the reality of modern anti-Semitism,” said Lancman, also a former New York City councilman.
“A government that disavows IHRA isn’t serious about defeating anti-Semitism, but rather allowing it.” he said.
The Anti-Defamation League also claims the “founding goals” of the BDS movement would result in the “eradication of the world’s only Jewish state are antisemitic.”
Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Eric Adams’ campaign, said, Mamdani’s “reckless rejection” of the IHRA definition of antisemitism is “shameful, dangerous, and deeply out of touch with the values of New Yorkers.”
“This definition was not dreamed up in a political backroom — it was adopted by the White House, embraced by governments across the globe, and put in place by Mayor Adams earlier this year to protect Jewish New Yorkers from the very real surge in antisemitic hate they face every single day,” Shapiro said.
He also bashed Mamdani for continuing to refuse to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which many Jews view as a rally cry for violence. Mamdani in July said he would discourage the use of the phrase and won’t use it himself.
The IHRA definition says antisemitism is “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”
“Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities,” the definition states.
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