Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist assemblyman from Queens and a candidate in the New York City mayoral race, is under fire for refusing to affirm Israel’s right to exist specifically as a Jewish state. In a recent debate, Mamdani said he supports Israel’s right to exist “as a state with equal rights,” but carefully avoided endorsing its identity as a Jewish nation.

His comments sparked intense backlash from political figures and Jewish leaders. Andrew Cuomo, the leading contender in the Democratic primary, directly confronted Mamdani during the debate, criticizing his evasiveness and calling out his refusal to travel to Israel. Joseph Potasnik, a senior figure in the New York Board of Rabbis, also took issue with Mamdani’s stance, saying it delegitimizes Israel and offends Jewish communities.
While the controversy swirls, Mamdani has gained the backing of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a key member of the progressive “Squad” and a known critic of Israel. She applauded Mamdani’s campaign for mobilizing grassroots support among working-class voters across the city.
“Assembly member Mamdani has demonstrated a real ability on the ground to put together a coalition of working-class New Yorkers that is strongest to lead the pack,” Ocasio-Cortez told the New York Times following the debate in which Mamdani refused to say he supports Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish State.
Mamdani’s record on Israel has long been a point of contention. He is a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, and has declined to back resolutions in Albany that celebrate Israel’s independence or denounce the Holocaust. These moves have fueled further concern among Jewish voters and centrists who view his positions as part of a troubling trend of rising antisemitism.
With the Democratic primary drawing near, Mamdani’s views on Israel—and how they reflect on his suitability for office—remain a central issue shaping the mayoral contest.

{Matzav.com}