New York City Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani defended his support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement during a Tuesday interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
Mamdani explained his backing of the anti-Israel movement as a method to pressure the country into complying with international law. “I support BDS because this is a movement that is looking for that kind of compliance,” he stated.
When co-host Willie Geist questioned how this position aligns with supporting Jewish New Yorkers, many of whom are concerned by the BDS movement, Mamdani distinguished between criticizing a government and a people. “I think critiques of the state of Israel are critiques of a government, as opposed to critiques of a people and of a faith,” he said. “My job is to represent every single New Yorker, and I will do so no matter their thoughts and opinions on Israel and Palestine.”
The Anti-Defamation League has condemned the BDS campaign as a biased effort to delegitimize Israel that can embolden antisemitism. Mamdani’s stance has also drawn sharp criticism from local Jewish leaders. Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of the Park Avenue Synagogue told his congregation in October, “To be clear, unequivocal, and on the record, I believe Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community.”
His political opponents, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, have echoed these concerns, suggesting he would not protect the city’s Jewish residents.
The controversy follows previous incidents, including his initial refusal during the Democratic primary to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which is widely considered a call for violence against Jews. He later said he would discourage its use. In 2023, Mamdani was filmed at a rally promoting his state assembly bill to prohibit non-profit corporations from supporting Israeli settlement activity, asking supporters, “Are we ready to end New York state subsidy of settler crimes?”
Asked by Geist if BDS would be an official policy he would endorse, Mamdani replied, “I’ve said that I would support and have supported non-violent movements to bring about compliance with international law,” adding that he would be a representative for all Jewish New Yorkers.
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