Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, sponsored a bill that would fine Jewish groups at least $1 million for donating to “unauthorized” charities operating in Israel.
Mamdani first introduced his bill, known as the “Not on our dime!: Ending New York funding of Israeli settler violence act,” in 2023 to block donations to groups that he accused of funding the “expulsion and dispossession of Palestinians in the occupied territories.”
The bill is backed by New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Mamdani and has appeared at recent rallies alongside Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Mamdani, a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, wrote the legislation to target “not-for-profit corporations” that engage “in unauthorized support of Israeli settlement activity.”
The legislation would ban Jewish synagogues and charities from donating to groups such as United Hatzalah and ZAKA, nonprofit groups that specialize in emergency response and treatment of victims of terrorism, according to The Jerusalem Post.
The bill would also ban donations to the One Israel Fund, which focuses on “the safety and wellbeing of the 500,000+ residents of Judea and Samaria,” including providing “medical, educational, recreational, preventative security and all other forms of communal and social welfare.”
The bill defines settlement activity as “aiding and abetting activity by the Israeli armed forces, the government of Israel, or citizen thereof” relating to “the unlawful transfer of Israeli civilians into occupied territory” and “acts of violence committed by Israeli citizens against protected persons living in occupied territory.” The law goes on to include the “destruction, damage, or vandalism of Palestinian property,” “the appropriation, expropriation, seizure, destruction, demolition, dismantlement, or confiscation, in whole or in part, of private Palestinian land,” and “the unilateral acquisition and annexation of land in occupied territory.”
According to the bill, “occupied territory” relates to “the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.” “West Bank” is the Palestinian name for the regions of Judea and Samaria. The reference to “East Jerusalem” means that part of Israel’s capital city would be considered “occupied territory.”
After it was introduced in 2023, the legislature received swift condemnation from New York lawmakers, including many of Mamdani’s fellow Democrats. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins both said that Mamdani’s bill would not receive a vote. A group of 25 lawmakers signed a letter opposing the bill.
“The bill is a ploy to demonize Jewish charities with connection to Israel. It was only introduced to antagonise pro-Israel New Yorkers and sow divisions within the Democratic party,” the letter said.
Mamdani beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to receive the Democratic Party’s nod to run in the general election for New York City mayor. Mamdani’s vocal support for socialism and use of Communist revolutionary language has worried New York’s business community. Mamdani’s anti-Israel positions – including support for the antisemitic Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement – has further worried New York’s substantial Jewish community.