The election of Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim and leftist Mayor, has provoked a sharp and aggressive reaction from Israel, with officials immediately labeling the Mayor-elect as a supporter of the Palestinian resistance organization, Hamas.
Israel’s Minister for Immigrant Absorption expressed strong alarm in a statement released on social media:
“The city that was once a symbol of global freedom has now handed its keys over to a Hamas supporter.”
The Israeli Minister leveled further severe accusations, claiming that Mamdani’s views are not much different from those of the “Jihadi extremists” who killed three thousand American citizens in the 9/11 attacks. This statement heightens the controversy by linking Mamdani’s victory to a sensitive moment in American history.
Another Israeli politician also reacted harshly to Mamdani’s election, noting the timing: “Not even three decades have passed since the Twin Towers attack, and New York has elected a racist, inciter, and Islamist as Mayor.”
This fierce reaction stems from Zohran Mamdani’s pro-Palestinian stance and his previous strong criticisms of Israel, signaling that the new Mayor of New York may face intense diplomatic and political tension with the Israeli lobby throughout his term.
