Why it matters:
Mamdani’s victory has stirred debate across political and diaspora circles, especially given his progressive stance and Muslim identity. New York is home to the largest Jewish community outside occupied terrtories, and Mamdani’s support among Jewish voters has raised eyebrows in Israeli political circles.
What he's saying:
“It was not necessarily Israel that played a decisive role in Jewish New Yorkers’ vote for Zoran Mamdani,” Amichai Chikli told reporters.
His comments suggest a reluctance to frame Mamdani’s win as a referendum on Israeli policy or influence.
The big picture:
Mamdani is a critic of Israel, and the vote for him by Jewish groups in New York has alarmed Israel. Officials in Tel Aviv fear that the recent war in Gaza and anti-Israeli policies that have been launched across the United States, especially on its universities, have led to a distancing of the American Jewish community from Israeli policies.
Tel Aviv appears to be treading carefully in its public messaging, avoiding direct confrontation or criticism. Mamdani’s election comes amid growing political polarization in the U.S. and shifting dynamics in diaspora engagement.
Zoom in:
Israel accuses Mamdani of anti-Semitic views, but his statements after his election, in which he announced that he would combat Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, which are components of racism, have made Israeli propaganda about him ineffective.
Go deeper:
Democrat Zohran Mamdani Elected as New York’s First Muslim Mayor
Hossein Amiri - ahmad shirzadian
