New York City’s leading Democratic mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, stated that if elected, he would recognize Israel, "but not as a Jewish state," during the mayoral debate against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa held on Thursday night.
When pressed on the Gaza war, Mamdani accused Israel of genocide several times, while also calling on Hamas to honor the ceasefire.
"Of course I believe [Hamas] should lay down their arms. Calling for a ceasefire means ceasing fire, that means all parties have to cease fire and put down their weapons, and the reason that we call for that is not only for the end to the genocide but also unimpeded access of humanitarian aid,” he said, adding that he would continue to push to address "the conditions that preceded this, conditions like the occupation, the siege and apartheid."
"I want to be very clear that the occupation is a reference to international law and the violation of it, which Mr. Cuomo has no regard for since he signed up to be Benjamin Netanyahu's legal defense team during the course of this genocide," Mamdani said.
However, his statement was challenged by Cuomo, who pointed out that Mamdani has declined to condemn the use of the phrase ‘globalize the intifada.’
Mamdani continued to dodge antisemitism claims
“Why wouldn’t he condemn Hamas? Why wouldn’t he condemn Hasan Piker?” Cuomo asked, referring to the popular influencer who has repeatedly been accused of antisemitism, including by New York Democratic congressman Ritchie Torres.
While Mamdani stated he found Piker’s comments to be “objectionable and reprehensible,” he insisted that he would refuse to recognize Israel as an explicitly Jewish state.
“I’ve said time and again that I recognize Israel’s right to exist,” he said. “I would not recognize any state’s right to exist with a system of hierarchy on the basis of race or religion.”
“Jews don’t trust that you are going to be there for them when they are the victims of antisemitic attacks,” Silwa told him.