New York Mayor Mamdani’s antisemitism plan omits Israel, sparking debate over Jewish state’s role in hate crime definitions

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism for his approach to antisemitism, following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation that he is “the antisemitic mayor of New York” during a speech at the UN General Assembly on September 24. In response, Mamdani took three steps: planting olive trees for Gaza, dismissing Netanyahu’s remarks as “baseless lies,” and proposing a significant increase in funding for the city’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, from $3 million to $29 million annually.

The sequence of these actions is significant. While the proposed budget increase for hate crime prevention is justified by the high rate of antisemitic incidents in New York—where Jews, comprising about 10% of the population, were the targets of 57% of reported hate crimes in 2025—Mamdani’s plan lacks a clear definition of antisemitism. This omission is notable, as it diverges from the previous administration’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition.

Mamdani revoked the IHRA definition upon taking office in January and has not included Israel in his new plan. The Anti-Defamation League criticized this decision, pointing out that Mamdani ignored the display of flags glorifying terrorist organizations near synagogues and failed to address public support for those groups. The league emphasized that Mamdani’s focus on an anti-Israel agenda has overshadowed his commitment to protecting Jewish New Yorkers.

Mamdani’s stance on Israel has been consistent with broader anti-Zionist sentiments. He has labeled Israel’s military actions in Gaza as “genocide,” supported the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and backed legislation targeting pro-Israel nonprofits. His current plan to protect Jews from harassment and violence appears to exclude the issue of demonizing the Jewish state, which critics argue is a key component of antisemitism.

The situation reflects a pattern seen in what some describe as the “3D” architecture of new antisemitism—denying the Holocaust, demonizing Israel, and delegitimizing Jewish identity. This framework, according to critics, creates a dangerous divide between Jewish people and the Jewish state, undermining efforts to combat antisemitism comprehensively. The challenge lies in addressing hate without neglecting the complex relationship between Jewish communities and the state of Israel.

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