The victory of anti-Israel candidate Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayoral election is far more than a local political choice. It is a statement from a significant portion of New Yorkers, in stark contrast to the election of US President Donald Trump, who is widely admired in Israel.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old Muslim immigrant from Uganda and a democratic socialist, represents the complete opposite of Trump. His win feels like a deliberate slap in the face to everything Trump symbolizes and, indirectly, to Israel as well.
Think about it: If his political trajectory continues to rise, Mamdani may become a dominant figure in American politics for years to come, and no one can predict how far that influence will reach.
Mamdani was backed by approximately 40% of Jewish voters
Mamdani proudly touts support from segments of the Jewish community. About 40% of Jewish voters reportedly backed him, while the Israeli community in New York expresses deep concern about his worldview and potential future impact. He claims he “loves Jews” but not Israelis and certainly not Israel as a Jewish state. In his view, Israel should become a “state of all its citizens,” a sanitized phrase that challenges the Jewish right to self-determination and undermines the very essence of Zionism.
Will we see more pro-Palestinian demonstrations, more hostility toward Israelis and Jews, and more legitimacy granted to antisemitism disguised as “political criticism?”
I am convinced that this is not just another political cycle. We are entering a new and troubling era, one in which Israel’s legitimacy and the security of Jewish communities around the world are being put to the test.
We cannot afford to be complacent. We must stand united, raise our voices loud and clear, defend ourselves and our future as a people, protect our safety worldwide, and safeguard our undeniable right to a national homeland. If we don’t protect ourselves, who will?
The writer is a former member of Knesset. She is the founder and chairwoman of The Purple Homefront – Emergency and Routine Command Center for People with Disabilities.