Israel warns reckless mayoral rollback empowers antisemitism, legitimizes boycotts, and imperils Jews as radicals cheer.
Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, sharply condemned actions by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of undermining Jewish safety by dismantling key Israel-related protections.
Akunis warned that revoking New York’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and lifting bans on boycotts of Israel sends a dangerous signal. He stressed such moves could embolden extremists and trigger a rise in antisemitic violence across the city.
Within hours of taking office, Mamdani issued an executive order nullifying all mayoral directives signed by his predecessor, Eric Adams, after September 26, 2024. The sweep erased Adams’ June 2025 order formally recognizing the IHRA definition and another directive barring city officials from participating in anti-Israel boycotts.
Although Mamdani pledged to keep the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism operational, Jewish leaders argue the rollback guts its effectiveness. William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, called the cancellations a troubling indicator that weakens the city’s ability to identify and confront antisemitism amid rising incidents.
Israel’s Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, went further, accusing Mamdani of attempting to rewrite standards to evade accountability. He warned that normalizing Israel boycotts under “social justice” rhetoric risks legitimizing extremist positions—especially alarming in New York City, home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel.
Israel and Jewish leaders insist that rolling back clear definitions and protections does not promote inclusion—it invites hatred.
