Mayor Mamdani’s $30M antisemitism plan boosts funding for anti-Israel group with no Jewish ties

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s $30 million plan to combat antisemitism in New York City includes increased funding for non-profit organizations, some of which have no ties to the Jewish community. The initiative, titled “Strategy to Combat Antisemitism,” was released last week and features a $6.4 million boost for Partners Against the Hate (P.A.T.H.), doubling the previous year’s funding for the taxpayer-backed community grant program.

The initiative, launched in 2021 under the city’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, partners with six grassroots organizations, including the Jewish Community Relations Council and various religious and ethnic groups. However, the plan notably omits any mention of Zionism, a term often associated with the political movement supporting the state of Israel.

One of the top advocacy groups involved in P.A.T.H. is the Arab American Association of New York, an anti-Israel organization. The Brooklyn-based group, which was previously led by Mamdani’s mentor and pro-Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour, has supported anti-Israel protests, including the encampment at Columbia University following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023. The organization received $3.3 million in city funding between 2017 and 2024, according to data analyzed by the transparency watchdog OpenTheBooks.

P.A.T.H. also partners with the 67th Precinct Clergy Council, known as “the Godsquad,” the LGBT NYC Anti-Violence Project, the Asian American Federation, and the Hispanic Federation. These groups work to prevent hate crimes through community programs and grants.

Mamdani has faced pressure since taking office to address the rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes across the five boroughs. NYPD data shows an 8% increase in antisemitic attacks through August, with anti-Jewish hate crimes making up a significant portion of the reports. Before his election, Mamdani campaigned with Sarsour, who supported his early political career and advocated for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the mayor having no authority over foreign dignitaries.

Critics within the Jewish community have criticized the plan for failing to mention Zionism, a key term in discussions about Jewish identity and the state of Israel. Over two dozen Jewish leaders called on the Mamdani administration to revise the plan to include addressing Zionism, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to combating antisemitism.

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