Zohran Mamdani blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli government, and the Knesset for the “ongoing violence in Israel and Palestine,” a day after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, in a post shared to X/Twitter.
“I mourn the hundreds of people killed across Israel and Palestine in the last 36 hours,” Mamdani stated.
“Netanyahu’s declaration of war, the Israeli government’s decision to cut electricity to Gaza, and Knesset members calling for another Nakba will undoubtedly lead to more violence and suffering in the days and weeks to come.”
Mamdani concluded his post by claiming that “the path toward a just and lasting peace can only begin by ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid.”
Winner of mayoral primary in NYC
On Tuesday, Mamdani was announced the winner of the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City, which ignited concerns within the Jewish community, The Jerusalem Post recently reported.
Mamdani, a State Assembly member for New York’s 36th District, representing neighborhoods in Queens, has become known for being a vocal critic of Israeli policies and an advocate for Palestinian rights, the Post reported.
While speaking on “The Bulwark” last week, Mamdani defended the pro-Palestinian phrase “globalize the intifada,” telling the hosts that the phrase was often misunderstood.
Refusal to recognize a Jewish state
Additionally, in June, Mamdani refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, according to the New York Post.
During a Democratic mayoral primary debate on June 4 between Andrew Cuomo and Mamdani, the former refused to answer the question asked by the moderator.
“I believe Israel has a right to exist,” Mamdani said.
“As a Jewish state?” the moderator asked.
“As a state with equal rights,” Mamdani replied.
However, in an interview with Fox News, Mamdani clarified that he opposes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, explaining, “Because I’m not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship based on religion or anything else,” as reported by the New York Post.
In January, Mamdani also declined to co-sponsor New York State’s Holocaust Remembrance resolution, as Politico reported. However, his campaign later stated that he supported it by voice vote, the Jerusalem Post added.