Mamdani ignores Israel lobby’s whines about BDS changes

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani has shrugged off Zionist lobby whines about his decision to remove rules protecting Israel. As almost his first act as mayor, he cancelled his predecessor’s ‘executive orders’ banning city employees from boycotting Israel. Mamdani also binned the notoriously awful ‘IHRA working definition’ of antisemitism, which even its creator says is unfit and designed to chill free speech about Israel.

Mamdani is not going to be swayed

True to form, the lobby demanded that Mamdani offer concessions to its racist views. Also true to form, the Zionist demand itself was antisemitic because it equated Jewish people with Israel. A statement from pro-Israel groups read:

Our community will be looking for clear and sustained leadership that demonstrates a serious commitment to confronting antisemitism and ensures that the powers of the mayor’s office are used to promote safety and unity, not to advance divisive efforts such as BDS.

Singling out Israel for sanctions is not the way to make Jewish New Yorkers feel included and safe, and will undermine any words to that effect.

On his very first day as New York City Mayor Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” Israel’s foreign ministry said in a post. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.

Many Jewish people are, of course, at the forefront of anti-genocide protests and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. They are either ignored or attacked by Israel’s supporters and its allies in politics and media.