On Friday, Israeli officials criticized New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani, claiming he was adding “anti-Semitic gasoline to a bonfire.” This statement followed his rapid reversal of policies set by the previous administration that favored Israel.
One noteworthy change involved the cancellation of an executive order from former Mayor Eric Adams that barred city officials from boycott or divestment actions against Israel.
Mamdani’s administration also annulled an executive order that recognized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism, which the Adams team argued included aspects like “demonizing Israel and applying double standards as a form of modern anti-Semitism.”
Many within the Jewish community regard the IHRA definition as essential for tackling anti-Semitism.
In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Affairs Ministry remarked, “On his first day as Mayor of New York, Mr. Mamdani revealed his true colors by rescinding the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism and lifting restrictions on the boycott of Israel.”
“This isn’t leadership; it’s like throwing fuel on an anti-Semitic fire,” they added.
Mamdani also revoked Executive Order 61 from last month, which mandated the NYPD to protect synagogues and other religious sites from protests. This order aimed to designate specific zones for demonstrations near places of worship.
Brooklyn Republican Representative Inna Vernikov harshly criticized the mayor’s decisions on social media.
“Pro-Hamas anti-Semites are feeling empowered thanks to @NYCMayor, so we need to uphold existing federal laws!” she wrote on X.
In another post, she stated, “Mamdani just repealed the executive order that adopted the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which safeguards the rights of Jewish people who advocate for self-determination.”
City Hall noted that Mamdani’s first order of business was to revoke all executive orders issued by Adams after September 26, 2024, the date Adams faced federal corruption charges, all in an effort to start anew. Officials insisted that Mamdani plans to reintroduce the executive order supporting the IHRA definition.
