Controversial Stance by New York State Sen. Zohran Mamdani

Recent reports indicate that New York State Senator Zohran Mamdani (D) did not sign two resolutions, one recognizing Israel and the other condemning the Holocaust.

As he campaigns for mayor of New York City, Mamdani’s decision not to back a state legislative resolution marking the 77th anniversary of Israel’s establishment has drawn attention. Interestingly, this refusal happened just four months after he declined to sign a resolution related to the Holocaust.

According to reports, Mamdani was among five members of the 150-member assembly who did not endorse at least one of these resolutions this year. This annual resolution is often a major point of contention in Albany, and his stance has sparked criticism.

New York State Senator Sam Berger (D) publicly condemned Mamdani, reminding everyone of the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas and also referencing support from former Representative Jamal Bowman (D-NY).

Berger highlighted Mamdani’s criticisms of Israel in the aftermath of those attacks, suggesting a connection to an anti-Semitic agenda, and pointed out past comments made by Mamdani regarding that day.

In a video shared on X, Mamdani defended his actions, saying he wasn’t a co-sponsor of the resolution and labeled some claims about him as misleading. He added, “Running for mayor means dealing with numerous unearned accusations,” noting how Politico’s reporting particularly took him aback.

He explained that his assembly team had been instructed not to co-host the resolution, which influenced his decision. “If I was added to the resolution, it would have been automatic,” he elaborated. While this was his policy, he insisted it wasn’t about the resolution’s content.

Furthermore, Mamdani stated, “I’ve voted for a resolution honoring the Holocaust each year, including this one, which pays tribute to the over six million Jews murdered by the Nazis.” He also mentioned ongoing financial support for Holocaust survivors within state budgets.

New York Post has reported on Mamdani’s hesitations regarding these resolutions, with Senator Jeffrey Dinowitz (D) calling him “the most anti-Israel man in Congress.” Dinowitz expressed his surprise at anyone being astonished by Mamdani’s actions, affirming this characterization of him.