Jewish Voters' Dilemma: Zohran Mamdani's Anti-Zionism Fuels Fear

In a recent Fox News poll, 38% of Jewish New Yorkers intend to vote for Zohran Mamdani for mayor, despite his anti-Zionist views. His critics argue that his ideology, while not antisemitic, has led him to break off collaboration with pro-Israel groups and even introduce legislation that could jeopardize the tax-exempt status of pro-Israel charities. Mamdani's background, including his ties to anti-Israel organizations and his history of singling out Israel for criticism, have raised concerns among Jewish voters.

Key Takeaways:

• 38% of Jewish New Yorkers intend to vote for Zohran Mamdani for mayor, despite his anti-Zionist views.
• Mamdani's views on Israel are more than disturbing for many Jewish voters, with 42% planning to vote for Andrew Cuomo and 13% supporting Curtis Sliwa.
• As an undergraduate at Bowdoin College, Mamdani broke off collaboration with the student arm of J Street, a left-wing Jewish group that supports Palestinian statehood and Israeli settlements.
• Mamdani wrote a rap song in 2017 called "Salaam" that appeared to glorify the Holy Land Foundation, an organization convicted of funneling money to Hamas.
• Mamdani introduced a bill in the State Assembly that could have jeopardized the tax-exempt status of virtually every pro-Israel charity.
• Anti-Zionists often give themselves away by only noticing Israel's human rights abuses, while ignoring those in other countries.
• Mamdani has not sponsored bills to oppose other human rights abuses, such as the persecution of Uyghurs in China or Kurds in Turkey.
• Many Jewish voters are concerned about Mamdani's anti-Zionism because it appears to be driven by a monomania to criticize one country.
• Mamdani's failure to unequivocally denounce the perpetrators of the Oct. 7 attacks has also raised concerns.
• Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove observed that Mamdani's anti-Zionist rhetoric seems to come with no downside, scoring points with his base but also frightening Jewish voters.

Statistics:

• 38% of Jewish New Yorkers intend to vote for Zohran Mamdani for mayor.
• 42% of Jewish New Yorkers plan to vote for Andrew Cuomo.
• 13% of Jewish New Yorkers intend to vote for Curtis Sliwa.
• The Holy Land Foundation was convicted of funneling $12 million to Hamas in 2008.
• The five defendants in the Holy Land Foundation case received prison sentences of 15 to 65 years for crimes including money laundering, tax fraud, and support of terrorism.

Sources:

• Fox News poll
• "The New York Times"
• Elliot Cosgrove, Rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue
• Alex Bores, fellow assemblyman and Democrat
• "Salaam" rap song by Zohran Mamdani (2017)
• Holy Land Foundation conviction (2008)
• J Street's support for Palestinian statehood and Israeli settlements
• Bowdoin College's president's dismissal of Mamdani's call for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions
• Mamdani's bill in the State Assembly (2022)