Anti-Israel ideology in New York governance endangers Jewish safety, civil rights enforcement, and billions funding.
A major political confrontation is unfolding in the United States as a Senate committee launches an investigation into New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, citing grave concerns that his early executive actions have weakened protections against antisemitism and aligned city policy with extremist anti-Israel activism.
According to reporting by the New York Post, the inquiry is being led by Bill Cassidy, chairman of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee. Cassidy warned that rescinding existing executive orders could undermine federal civil-rights enforcement and place $2.2 billion in federal education funding at risk for New York City schools.
At the center of the controversy is Mamdani’s cancellation of orders issued by former mayor Eric Adams, including New York City’s formal adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. Another revoked order barred city officials from engaging in boycotts against Israel.
Cassidy emphasized that antisemitism in New York is not theoretical but an escalating crisis, particularly for Jewish students. He underscored that the IHRA definition is globally recognized by democratic governments and institutions as a critical tool to identify and combat modern antisemitism, especially when anti-Zionism is weaponized to target Jews.
Mamdani, a vocal supporter of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign and a frequent accuser of Israel, has offered no alternative framework to protect Jewish students. This silence comes amid a documented surge in antisemitic violence across the city.
According to the New York Police Department, antisemitic incidents accounted for 57% of all hate crimes in 2025, with January 2026 alone seeing a 182% year-over-year spike. For Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, the message is clear: delegitimizing Israel fuels real-world hatred and violence against Jews.
Cassidy has demanded a formal response by February 19, signaling that federal tolerance for antisemitism—whether ideological or administrative—is rapidly wearing thin.
