NEW YORK — New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, a leading candidate in the New York City mayoral race, drew fire on the debate stage on Wednesday when he would not recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
Mamdani is polling in second place ahead of this month’s Democratic party primary, which will likely decide the winner of the November election in the mostly Democratic US city.
Mamdani, a state assemblymember from Queens, is a longtime pro-Palestinian activist and is harshly critical of Israel. His views on Israel’s right to exist have come under scrutiny in recent weeks and he has repeatedly avoided acknowledging Israel’s Jewish character. He has previously identified as an anti-Zionist.
During Wednesday’s debate, their first, the nine primary candidates were asked where their first visit abroad would be if they were elected.
Three of the candidates said Israel — frontrunner Andrew Cuomo, the former New York State governor; longshot candidate Whitney Tilson; and Jewish former city comptroller Scott Stringer, who said it would be his first visit to Israel.
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said she would choose “the holy land.” City Comptroller Brad Lander, also Jewish, said he would visit Canada due to the Trump administration’s antagonism toward Canada.
Mamdani said he would “stay in New York City.” The interviewers took the opportunity to press Mamdani on whether he would consider a visit to Israel at all.
“I believe you need not travel to Israel to stand up for Jewish New Yorkers,” he said.
“Yes or no, do you believe in a Jewish state of Israel?” he was asked.
“I believe Israel has the right to exist, as a state with equal rights,” he said.
“Not as a Jewish state,” Cuomo interjected. “And his answer was no, he won’t visit Israel.”
Mamdani has voiced a variation of the same line several times before when pressed over Israel’s Jewish character, and has not yet acknowledged Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.
After he affirmed last month, while under pressure, Israel’s right to exist without mentioning Israel’s Jewish character, he came under fire from anti-Israel activists.
Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, a far-left group that has made anti-Israel activism one of its party planks.
Jewish issues made scant appearance in the two-hour debate hosted by the news outlets NBC4 New York, Telemundo 47, and Politico.
The candidates were asked about the Trump administration’s move to revoke Columbia University’s accreditation. They all opposed the move, while acknowledging that antisemitism was a serious issue, except for Mamdani, who did not mention antisemitism in his response, although in the following question he acknowledged the “very real issue of antisemitism.”
“There’s been antisemitism in this city.I believe it’s a growing problem and I believe the rhetoric about Israel has actually inflamed the antisemitism. Put that aside, I think this is just another overreach of the Trump administration,” Cuomo said.
“This is a frightening time for Jews and I feel it really personally after the flamethrowing in Boulder, Colorado, and the two murders in Washington, DC,” Lander said. “But let’s be clear — Donald Trump, he platforms white nationalists and antisemites all the time. This has nothing to do with keeping anyone safe.”
The candidates also opposed the Trump administration’s arrest of Columbia student activist Mahmoud Khalil.
“This is a continuation of Trump eroding democracy, chipping away at due process. He should be released,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo and Tilson, who has Jewish family, wore yellow ribbons on their lapels, a symbol in support of the hostages in Gaza.
Mayoral candidates, including frontrunner Cuomo, have been battling for Jewish votes ahead of the June 24 primary. Jews make up about 16% of the primary electorate.