Zohran Mamdani couldn’t even pretend he supports Israel’s right to exist as actually Israel: Bad as everyone was on stage at the first Democratic mayoral debate, he disqualifies himself with that stance alone.
And, incidentally, exposes anyone who endorses him as perfectly fine with promoting antisemitism.
That includes not only Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who’s tried to distance herself a tad from her most viscerally antisemitic Squad-mates but still endorsed Mamdani the day after the debate, but also state Sen. John Liu, who announced his support even as he insisted they disagreed on Israel.
Sorry, John: When Jews are being gunned down in our nation’s capital, and firebombed at a peaceful Boulder vigil, it’s no time to set aside that difference.
As for the debate, it was a mess of an event the Campaign Finance Board set up: Too many candidates onstage jockeying for time; too many moderators doing the same — producing an obsessive focus on “differences” most voters don’t care about.
At least they got to the Gaza war near the end of the two-hour affair, with a discussion that led Mamdani to declare, “I believe Israel has a right to exist” — but when the moderator prompted, “As a Jewish state?” he replied merely, “As a state with equal rights.”
As others quickly pointed out, that’s not Israel’s right to exist at all.
“There are 22 Arab Muslim states. In Mamdani’s world, there isn’t room for one Jewish state. He doesn’t want a Jewish State,” notes Joseph Potasnik of the New York Board of Rabbis.
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Mamdani’s dodge comes as no surprise; he has proudly denounced the war against Hamas and his Democratic Socialists go even further, with one faction even cheering last month’s Jew-targeting DC assassin.
No, this isn’t the only reason for New Yorkers to reject Mamdani’s candidacy; his “free stuff” agenda would devastate the city’s housing stock and indeed its entire economy.
But the Israel issue counts big: Mamdani wouldn’t even put his name on an Assembly resolution denouncing the Holocaust.
Early voting starts June 14; primary day is June 24: If you’re a registered Democrat, make a point of supporting only your picks among the other candidates.