Opinion

Presented with the opportunity to show that he plans to make good on his pledge to stand with Jewish New Yorkers to combat “the scourge of anti-Semitism,” Zohran Mamdani failed miserably. We now have even more reason to fear for our safety.

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the recent election was a debacle for the Jewish community that was years in the making. We need to look beyond the obvious reasons in order to understand what we are up against.

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that the global Jewish diaspora is facing an unsettling squeeze — one that is closing in from both ideological extremes. On the left, an unlikely alliance between progressive activists and Islamist movements has generated a wave of hostility toward Israel and, by extension, Jews worldwide. On the extreme right, a rising tide of isolationist and populist voices, from figures like Tucker Carlson to the openly antisemitic fringes around Nick Fuentes, have found new ways to target Jews and the Jewish state.

The return of the remains of Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, Lior Rudaeff, and Lieutenant Hadar Goldin for burial in Israel brings us one step closer to closing the loop set in motion on October 7, 2023. Our leaders remain determined to bring all the fallen back to their loved ones. Due to the valiant efforts of IDF soldiers, the leadership of our government, and the continued support and pressure from President Donald Trump and his diplomats, a successful outcome is now in sight.

“We will prove that there is no problem too large for government to solve, and no concern too small for it to care about.” — Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani during his victory speech.

In his debate appearances, mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani avoided answering questions on Israel by focusing on affordability as his top policy priority, but in the aftermath of the election, the cause that inspired him toward a political career is making headlines. Last week, the New York Post publicized an agenda list written by the Democratic Socialists of America’s city chapter, whose “anti-war working group” discussed severing the city’s ties with Israel on a dozen policies.