Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has called for a boycott of Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island due to its partnership with Israeli institutions. During an episode of the “Talking Palestine” podcast with Sumaya Awad, shortly after his election to the state assembly in 2020, he expressed his views.
“You can frame it as an international issue that has local implications,” the democratic socialist said. Mamdani referenced the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, suggesting that Cornell Technion exemplifies this concern in New York City. Roosevelt Island College is affiliated with Technion University in Israel, also known as the Jacob Stechnon Cornell Institute.
“Technion University is the University of Israel that has contributed to developing various weapons technologies used by the IDF,” he added. Mamdani mentioned his involvement in founding a student group focused on Palestinian rights while in school, emphasizing that the boycott campaign would examine the government funding Cornell Technion receives.
“We believe that once we reach a certain point, local or state subsidies for such projects on Roosevelt Island will come to light,” he stated.
The Roosevelt Venture is an initiative from former mayor Mike Bloomberg designed to implement a global competitive bidding process for the science and engineering campus. Cornell won the bid in September 2017, leading to the establishment of a joint campus that promotes shared programs and teaching.
A former aide to Bloomberg criticized Mamdani’s stance, calling it outrageous to challenge Cornell’s partnership with Technion. “Zohran Mamdani frequently targets Donald Trump and appears quite the fan,” said Mark Botnik, who worked in city hall during Bloomberg’s administration.
Botnik added, “If Mamdani is eager to sever ties with Israeli institutions, does that mean he will also deny New Yorkers access to critical medical treatments developed by these organizations?” He further claimed that this attitude hints at his anti-Semitic views.
Supporters of Cornell Tech also reacted negatively to Mamdani’s campaign against the campus ties. “It’s alarming to see mayoral candidates pushing for a boycott of Israel’s renowned Technion Institute while questioning public funding that has significantly contributed to our tech sector,” one supporter remarked.
Mamdani, 33, ranks as the second contender in the Democratic mayoral primary. Andrew Cuomo, known for his activism regarding Palestinian rights, has been critical of Israel.
During a recent mayoral debate, Mamdani reportedly failed to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. His campaign did not dispute his comments advocating for a boycott related to Cornell’s ties with Israel.
A spokesperson for Mamdani stated, “Zohran remains consistent and clear. He aims to reduce living costs for New Yorkers and ensure a safer city—that’s the campaign’s focus and his governing philosophy as mayor.” Early voting for the mayoral primary election on June 24th is set to start on June 14th.
