Zohran Mamdani in his own words

Early voting has already started in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City.  The winner is likely to become the city’s next mayor.

Although there are several other candidates, the polls show that it is essentially a two way race between Former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani says he is anti-Zionist and anti-Israel, supports BDS, and proudly touts his support from a number of pro-Hamas organizations, but denies being anti-Semitic.  He has said that he will be sensitive and supportive of the needs of the Jewish community of New York.

Rather than argue the point, I invite you to read what Mamdani himself posted on X on October 8, 2023, after the Hamas massacre and before Israel went on the offensive in Gaza.

https://x.com/ZohranKMamdani/status/1711093032907321525

STATEMENT: AM Zohran K. Mamdani on Ongoing Violence In Israel and Palestine.

I mourn the hundreds of people killed across Israel and Palestine in the last 36 hours.

Netanyahu’s declaration of war, the Israeli government’s decision to cut electricity to Gaza, and Knesset members calling for another Nakba will undoubtedly lead to more violence and suffering in the days and weeks to come.

The path toward a just and lasting peace can only begin by ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid.

He mourns the loss of hundreds of people killed (the number of Israelis killed was well over 1,000).  He makes no mention of the rapes or people taken hostage.  In mourning the loss of “people killed,” he makes no distinction between the Israeli victims and the Hamas terrorists and fails to condemn or even mention the Hamas massacre.

By criticizing the Israeli government and noting “Netanyahu’s declaration of war,” while totally ignoring the Hamas massacre, he essentially blames Israel for the October 7 massacre.

His call for a “just and lasting peace” makes no mention of recognizing Israel or releasing hostages, only for “ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid,” code words for the destruction of Israel.

This is Mamdani in his own words, on the day after the largest slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust.  Are these the words of someone who will be sensitive to the needs of the largest Jewish community in the Diaspora?

Even Andrew Cuomo’s most ardent supporters admit that he is far from a perfect person.  But in this election, the choice is clear. It is a choice between a flawed former Governor who has apologized for his past mistakes and made support for Israel and fighting anti-Semitism a centerpiece of his campaign, and a man who reacted to the largest one-day slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust by blaming the Jews.

If you live in New York City be sure to vote.  Early voting has already started.  Primary Day is Tuesday, June 24.

If you live elsewhere, be sure to get the word to your family and friends.  Failure to support the lesser of two evils can be complicity in allowing the greater evil to triumph.  We need to come out in large numbers to support Andrew Cuomo for Mayor.