‘New York has fallen’ – Israeli leaders react to Mamdani’s NYC win

“Antisemitism has triumphed” – Israeli lawmakers and ministers lament election of “racist, populist, openly Islamist” Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli lawmakers and government ministers expressed dismay Wednesday morning after American news networks reported that New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a vocal critic of the Jewish state, was elected mayor of New York City in Tuesday’s high-stakes vote.

Mamdani, who during the election campaign refused to denounce calls to “globalize the intifada,” vowed to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested if he visited New York City, accused Israel of genocide, and used one of his media appearances on election day to double down on his support for the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

After American news networks declared Mamdani the victor, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded by lamenting that “antisemitism triumphed.”

“Zohran Mamdani’s election as mayor of New York will be remembered forever as an instance in which antisemitism triumphed over common sense. Mamdani is a supporter of Hamas, a hater of Israel, and an avowed antisemite,” Ben-Gvir said.

“Like the Jews of New York, I too am worried by this change, but at the same time, I am confident in the righteousness of our country’s path: we will continue the elimination of Hamas in Gaza despite his false claims that we are committing a ‘genocide in Gaza’ — and we will keep fighting all our enemies with full force, paying no heed to Israel’s haters.”

Opposition MK Avigdor Liberman, head of the Israel Beytenu party and a former defense minister, posted on X, “The Big Apple has fallen,” and called Mamdani a “racist.”

“Just three decades after the 9/11 disaster, New York has chosen a racist, populist, and openly Islamist figure as its mayor. Mamdani is the poster child of the ‘quiet jihad.’ Mamdani is the last thing a city plagued by crime, antisemitism, and insecurity needed.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel was more restrained in her response even as she expressed concern over Mamdani’s “history of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish rhetoric.”

“New York’s Jewish community deserves leaders who protect them, not target them,” Haskel told The Jerusalem Post.

Coalition MK Ohad Tal, head of the Knesset’s Israel-US caucus, derided Mamdani as an “Islamist, antisemitic, and communist leader.”