New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Tuesday he would roll out the welcome mat for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited the Big Apple, distancing himself from Zohran Mamdani, his top rival in the mayoral race, who has called for the Jewish leader to be arrested if he sets foot in the city.

Mr. Adams is trying to make the most of the blowback against Mr. Mamdani, accusing him of using “antisemitic rhetoric” and refusing to condemn the “Globalize the Intifada” pro-Palestinian slogan that has gained steam with Democrats since the beginning of the war in Gaza.

Mr. Mamdani, a Muslim, has supported the “boycott, divestment, sanctions” movement to isolate and punish Israel. Israel is accused of genocide in Gaza. The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and killed 1,200 people.

He also vowed, if elected, to arrest Mr. Netanyahu to show solidarity with the International Criminal Court that issued an arrest warrant for the prime minister.

Mr. Netanyahu brushed off the threat in a joint appearance this week with President Trump at the White House, and a day later got a show of support from Mr. Adams.

“Netanyahu is welcome in the city as any other international leader,” Mr. Adams, a Christian, said on Fox News.

The contrast between the top two contenders in New York’s mayoral race on Israel and Mr. Netanyahu is testing the Democratic Party’s ties to Israel and a large number of Jewish voters.

“Jewish voters are obviously important in the city’s general election, and historically, they are extremely loyal to the Democratic Party,” said Grant Reeher, political science professor at Syracuse University. “But Mamdani is a bridge too far for many of them, especially given what’s happened in the streets of the city since the war in Gaza.”

Indeed, the city witnessed a rash of anti-Israel protests, often including antisemitic messaging, at Columbia University and other schools.

In February, an anti-Israel protest in a predominantly Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Borough Park turned violent with clashes between demonstrators and residents.

In April, violence erupted at an anti-Israel protest outside a synagogue in Brooklyn.

“Those experiences are real and visceral and stimulate historical memory and trauma,” Mr. Reeher said. “The question is how many of them decide simply not to vote as a result.”

It remains to be seen whether Mr. Adams or former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, both Democrats running as independents in the general election, can emerge as an acceptable alternative and rally Jewish voters concerned about Mr. Mamdani’s politics.

Mr. Adams and Mr. Cuomo have urged the other to drop out of the race to unify the anti-Mamdani vote.

Mr. Cuomo rallied the Jewish vote in the Democratic primary. He also garnered the support of some of the city’s most well-heeled pro-Israel donors.

Former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg funnels millions into the pro-Cuomo “Fix This City” super PAC. Bill Ackman, the billionaire Jewish investor who expressed frustration with the party’s aggressive pro-Palestinian progressive wing, also opened his wallet.

Mr. Cuomo performed well in some of New York City’s most populous Jewish areas, including Borough Park, Crown Heights, Williamsburg and the Upper East Side.

Still, he fell well short in the party’s ranked-choice primary, raising questions about the power of the city’s Jewish vote amid rapidly changing demographics and prompting him to run as an independent.

Gallup polling shows that most Americans are still more sympathetic toward Israel than the Palestinians, but that support for Israel has sunk to its lowest level in 25 years.

Meanwhile, the percentage of U.S. adults who now say they sympathize more with the Palestinians has ticked up to its highest level.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which Hamas runs, Israel’s retaliation has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians. Israel maintains it is targeting militants, and blames civilian casualties on Hamas operating in populated areas.

Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf said the diverging views among Democrats on Israel expose generational fissures in the party, pitting old-school, pro-Israel voters against younger voters who are disillusioned with the status quo.

Asked what Mr. Mamdani’s victory would mean for the Democratic brand in the eyes of observant Jewish voters, Mr. Sheinkopf said, “Mamdani destroys it.”

“Not the people who say they’re Jews and pretend to be Jews, but the people who observe, who’ve been critical to the functioning of cities throughout the country, who’ve been mainstays of charity and the civic culture, they’re gonna leave,” he said, indicating these voters will not only leave the party across the nation, but also move out of New York City.

“They will leave, and the rest will be here to pick up the tab,” Mr. Sheinkopf said. “Florida never had it so good.”

The Mamdani campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Democrats are now scrambling to defeat Mr. Mamdani.

“If he is the cure to what ails the party, then cyanide is the cure for a headache,” former Gov. David Paterson told reporters this week.

Mr. Trump said Tuesday the top brass of the Democratic Party, including Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, who is Jewish and represents New York, have already been corrupted with Mr. Mamdani’s way of thinking.

“He has become a Palestinian,” Mr. Trump told reporters during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “He’s abandoned the Jews.”

Mr. Trump also signaled Mr. Schumer’s days could be numbered. He speculated that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Mr. Mamdani and has been critical of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, could run against him in 2028.

“His career is limited because I hear AOC is going to beat him, and she is no bargain either,” Mr. Trump said.

• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.