As Middle East tensions escalate, the New York City mayoral race has become a battleground for ideological clashes, particularly around the controversial phrase ‘Globalize the Intifada.’ Zohran Mamdani, a mayoral candidate and the first Muslim to seek the position, has faced backlash for defending the phrase, which is associated with pro-Palestinian resistance against Israel. His comments have drawn sharp criticism from Jewish advocacy groups, including the United States Holocaust Museum, which condemned the use of the phrase as offensive and potentially dangerous.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a leading candidate for mayor, has called on all contenders to ‘denounce’ Mamdani’s stance, arguing that the phrase is not open to interpretation and poses a threat to Jewish communities already facing rising antisemitism. Recent incidents in Washington, D.C., and Denver have highlighted the urgency of this issue, with attacks on Jewish individuals and groups linked to pro-Palestinian rhetoric. Mam’d’s position on the Middle East, particularly his rejection of Israel as a ‘Jewish state,’ has further intensified the controversy, drawing criticism from fellow Democrats and Jewish leaders.
In response to the backlash, Mamdani has framed the debate as one of political weaponization of antisemitism, asserting that his critics are more interested in using the issue for political gain rather than addressing the real challenges of antisemitism in New York. However, prominent figures, including the son of Holocaust survivors, have dismissed his defense as either naive or malicious, emphasizing the need to exclude those promoting antisemitism from positions of power.