Queens was overjoyed when Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral election in New York City. But thousands of miles away in Israel, his win triggered alarm among officials and stirred unease in Jerusalem’s corridors of power.
Zohran Mamdani, 34, a self-described democratic socialist who defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo, used his victory speech to reassure Jewish New Yorkers. “We will build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism,” he told the AP. The remark was repeated widely as leaders tried to read what his win means for New York’s ties with Israel.
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What was the Israeli official's reaction?
Israel’s criticism was sharp. Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, warned that Mamdani’s election could undermine “the sense of security” felt by the Jews residing in New York, a concern Danon expressed in comments reported by Reuters. Amichai Chikli, who's the Israel’s minister for diaspora affairs, posted on X that some Israelis should consider relocating, saying the city had “handed over its keys” to a candidate whom he described as hostile to Israel. His remarks were captured in multiple reports and on his public social feed.
Not everyone in Israel sounded alarmed. Analysts pointed to broader shifts in American Jewish politics. “Mamdani’s win shows younger voters - Jewish and non-Jewish are reassessing traditional positions,” Mairav Zonszein of the International Crisis Group told reporters.
Palestinian leaders greeted the outcome as a sign of global attention to the Palestinian cause. “The election of Mr Mamdani is truly inspiring,” Mustafa Barghouti told the Associated Press, adding that the result reflected a rising concern about injustice among younger voters worldwide.
What it means for New York?
Inside New York, early returns of polling showed Mamdani carried significant support among younger Jewish voters, a fact noted by news agencies covering the race. At the same time, critics both at home and abroad have seized on his past statements on Gaza and Israel to question how he will handle the city’s large, diverse Jewish community.
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For now, the debate is as much symbolic as practical: opponents warn of policy shifts and broken ties; supporters say Mamdani’s victory simply reflects changing priorities among urban voters. As the new mayor prepares to take office, both sides will be watching closely and talking loudly about what his tenure may mean for the city’s relationship with Israel and for the politics of American cities more broadly.
