The controversy over antisemitic comments and hostility toward Israel at City University of New York campuses has emerged as a hot button issue in the upcoming primary election next Tuesday.

The newly created 43rd district in southern Brooklyn contains a majority of Asian-American residents — a first for Brooklyn — but also parts of the Orthodox Jewish communities in Bensonhurst and Boro Park.

The anticipated Jewish vote in the primary is 500 – 600 voters out of a total likely turnout of around 4000 — or upwards of 15% — enough to tilt the outcome and determine the winner in a low-turnout election according to political strategists.

In the Democratic primary, there are three Chinese-American candidates: education activist Stanley Ng, Susan Zhuang and Wai Yee Chan.

Chan, who is currently leading in the polls, is being slammed for accepting the endorsement of the Professional Staff Congress, a faculty union representing CUNY professors.

In 2021, PSC passed a one-sided resolution rebuking Israel for recent attacks on Palestinians — adding that it may support the movement to boycott and divest from the Jewish state.

More than 50 faculty members resigned, calling the resolution antisemitic, anti-Jewish and anti-Israel.

“Wai Yee has chosen to stand with anti-Israel and anti-NYPD groups such as PSC CUNY, which endorsed her campaign,” said a defiant Zhuang.

“If she cannot even acknowledge and condemn the disease of anti-Semitism plaguing CUNY, then she can never be trusted to keep our Southern Brooklyn community safe.”

Brooklyn state Sen. Simcha Felder, a conservative Democrat who represents some of the same constituency, expressed dismay that any candidate would accept the endorsement of the Professional Congress.

“Why would any candidate want to be endorsed by an organization that backs people who are trying to destroy Israel. How can anyone vote for a candidate who wants the PSC’s support?,” Felder said.

Tensions remain high after CUNY Law student commence speaker, Fatima Mohammed, delivered an incendiary address last month, all but calling for jihad against Israel. 

She accused Israelis of indiscriminately murdering Palestinians, of encouraging “lynch mobs” and lauded resistance to “Zionism around the world.”

During an interview with the Jewish publication Hamodia, Zhuang said Mohammed’s speech should never have been allowed.

“I believe in freedom of speech, but you don’t say something against other people,” Zhuang said.

“That’s not called freedom — you are hurting the other people. And the hateful speech against Jewish people, the hateful speech against NYPD, and also our veterans who serve our country, that’s wrong.”   

Chan told the publication that “antisemitism is not acceptable” but downplayed the CUNY Law school speech as  “a very individual case” of antisemitism at CUNY.

When a Hamodia reporter asked about claims that there is actually a pattern of antisemitism at CUNY including by the professors’ union, Chan replied, “This allegation, of course, is not true.”

In a statement provided to the Post on Wednesday, Chan sidestepped the question about accepting the PSC endorsement and attacked Zhuang on unrelated issues.

“Everyone knows I strongly condemned the anti-Israel and anti-NYPD student commencement speech at CUNY Law. CUNY has made higher education accessible to New Yorkers of all backgrounds and has been a stepping stone to economic prosperity especially for Asian immigrant families,” Chan said.

PSC president James Davis said Zhuang’s attack on its endorsement of Chan is “clearly a weak attempt by a marginal candidate attempting to play politics.”

“We take primary elections seriously and stand by our endorsement of Wai Yee Chan, who will bring real leadership to Council District 43,” Davis said.

Chu, executive director of the not-for-profit Homecrest Community Services, has the backing of much of the southern Brooklyn Democratic establishment including neighboring Councilman Justin Brannan and labor unions including the United Federation of Teachers, health care workers union 1199 SEIU and firefighter unions.

Zhuang is backed by her former boss, Assemblyman Bill Colton (D-Brooklyn), former Councilman Mark Treyger and numerous Asian-American leaders and activists.