Arab MK Ahmad Tibi publicly endorses anti-Israel NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani

MK Ahmad Tibi, head of the Ta’al party, issued a public statement praising Mamdani’s leadership and vision, describing him as “young, articulate, and principled.”

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a far-left politician known for his anti-Israel views, has drawn support from an unlikely source in the Middle East — a sitting member of Israel’s parliament.

MK Ahmad Tibi, head of the Arab Ta’al party, issued a public statement praising Mamdani’s leadership and vision, describing him as “young, articulate, and principled.”

Tibi said the candidate brings “a refreshing spirit of social justice” to the mayoral race and has united communities across religious and ethnic lines.

Tibi lauded Mamdani for standing “firmly against hate and discrimination” despite what he called racist and Islamophobic attacks.

“Zohran continues to speak out for equality and human dignity,” Tibi said, expressing confidence that Mamdani would “defeat the racists for the good of all New Yorkers” and emerge as a “symbol of unity, tolerance, and hope.”

His statement ended with the rallying cry, “Haideh Zohran! Go Zohran! Ila al-Amam!” — Arabic for “Onward.”

Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly representing Queens, has been a divisive figure for his repeated criticism of Israel. He has questioned Israel’s legitimacy as a Jewish state and publicly backed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Jewish and pro-Israel groups in New York have sharply criticized those positions, viewing them as an attempt to delegitimize Israel’s existence.

Their concerns grew after Mamdani refused to denounce the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” a phrase associated with a campaign of murder against Jews.

In addition, Mamdani indicated that he would have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he were to come to New York, in keeping with the International Criminal Court’s warrant against the premier for alleged war crimes – an accusation most Israeli officials deny.