NYC mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani says he will overturn the IHRA definition of antisemitism, drawing sharp rebuke from Jewish leaders as hate crimes against Jews surge.
In a move rattling New York’s Jewish community, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist frontrunner in the city’s mayoral race, has pledged to reverse Mayor Eric Adams’ adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, the New York Post reported.
A spokesperson for Mamdani, Dora Pekec, said his administration would instead follow the Biden Administration’s strategy, emphasizing “education, community engagement, and accountability” rather than adopting the internationally recognized IHRA framework.
Adams, who signed the executive order in June after the October 7 Hamas massacre, defended IHRA as essential to combating the explosion of antisemitic hate. NYPD statistics show that more than half of all NYC hate crimes target Jews, despite Jews comprising only about 10% of the city’s population.
The IHRA definition—endorsed by the White House and adopted by over 30 countries and most U.S. states—draws a clear line between legitimate criticism of Israeli policy and antisemitic rhetoric. It cites, among other examples, denying the Jewish people’s right to self-determination or branding Israel as a “racist endeavor.”
Mamdani’s record fuels further concern:
- On October 8, 2023, the day after Hamas’ massacre, he attacked Israel rather than condemning Hamas.
- He refuses to denounce the slogan “globalize the Intifada,” widely seen as incitement to violence against Jews.
- He is a vocal supporter of the anti-Israel BDS movement and has even vowed to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he enters NYC during Mamdani’s tenure.
Jewish leaders blasted the candidate’s stance. Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, of the New York Board of Rabbis, said:
“I’m afraid to hear what definition he will use. If you can’t condemn Hamas, what does it take to be an antisemite?”
The Adams campaign likewise condemned the move. Spokesman Todd Shapiro called Mamdani’s rejection of IHRA “shameful, dangerous, and deeply out of touch,” noting:
“This definition was not dreamed up in a political backroom — it was embraced globally to protect Jewish New Yorkers from the surge in antisemitism they face every day.”
Despite the uproar, a Quinnipiac poll shows Mamdani holding a 22-point lead in the four-way mayoral contest, underscoring the deep divide in the city over Israel, antisemitism, and leadership.
