A resurfaced video shows New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a member of the state assembly, saying New York tax dollars were used to fund trips to Israel for state politicians—a claim critics say fuels antisemitic narratives, the New York Post reported.
Speaking at a protest on May 11, 2021, Mamdani said that New York state politicians visit Israel “paid for by your tax dollars” and expressed support for the movement to boycott Israel, per the Post.
Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, told JNS that Mamdani’s comments in the video, which resurfaced on Sunday, are misleading.
“The Jewish Community Relations Council of NY proudly hosts state and local elected officials on trips to Israel thanks to private philanthropic dollars,” he said. “Claiming otherwise is simply inaccurate and plays into the antisemitic idea that Jews are swindlers.”
“The assembly member has perpetuated a number of damaging and misleading narratives, which reveal a complete disregard for Jewish New Yorkers in the backdrop of rising antisemitism,” he said.
Charles Lavine, a Democratic assemblyman from New York, told JNS that Mamdani’s comments in the video reflect the mayoral candidate’s Jew-hatred.
“Mr. Mamdani is a demagogue and an opportunist,” he said.
Lavine told JNS that Mamdani has been a divisive state representative during his career.
“His energies and efforts have not been devoted towards passing legislation or towards building consensus amongst the members of the legislature, but have been entirely devoted to his own self,” he said.
