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Hochul says war against Iranian regime making it harder for her to counter hate of Jews, Muslims

The war has “heated up the passions around this,” the Democratic governor of New York said.

Hochul Mamdani
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, and Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor and a Democrat, at a public safety update at police headquarters in New York City, Jan. 6, 2026. Credit: Susan Watts/Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The U.S. and Israeli war against the Iranian terror regime, which has orchestrated and abetted numerous attacks on civilians in America, the Jewish state and elsewhere, is getting in the way of New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s efforts to fight hatred of Jews and Muslims in the empire state.

Marcia Kramer, of CBS 2, asked the Democratic governor if the war in Iran is “exacerbating what’s going on” and making it harder for her to deal with Islamophobia and antisemitism.

“Yes, it is. Yes, it is. Both problems. One is, apparently the attacker in Michigan. I just communicated with my friend, Gretchen Whitmer, the governor there,” Hochul said. “Was supposedly inspired because he had brothers that were killed in the war. They’re members of Hezbollah, which is a terrorist organization that we are concerned about even in North America here. I will say that.”

“I get intelligence briefings all the time and we’re deeply concerned about individuals who are here trying to do harm to all of us,” she said. “So, it is making it difficult, because that has heated up the passions around this, and also on the affordability challenges. Gasoline prices are through the roof, and even if you don’t own a car, you’re paying for the higher cost of goods being transported to your grocery store.”

“There’s a ripple effect of everything and none of it is good,” she added.

Hochul also told CBS 2 that Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who posted an image of Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayor, sitting on a prayer rug alongside an image of the 9/11 attacks, and people like he “should not be in public life.”

“In fact, they are the lowest of the low,” she said. “I reject any kind of notion that it’s okay in public discourse or even in your own house to, not just harbor that hate, but to share it with others and to be part of a problem that we’re trying to deal with.”

“The rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism is off the charts,” she said.

The New York City mayor said that he is “grateful that Leqaa has been released this evening from ICE custody after more than a year in detention for speaking up for Palestinian rights.”
“I hope all the folks from Temple Israel know that we’re praying for them,” the U.S. vice president said. “We’re thinking about them.”
The co-author of the K-12 law told JNS that “this attempt to undermine crucial safety protections for Jewish children at a time when antisemitic hate and violence is rampant and rising is breathtaking.”
The measure has drawn opposition from civil-liberties groups, including the state’s ACLU.

Israel Airports Authority confirmed that the planes were empty and no injuries were reported.

The victims suffered light blast wounds and were listed in good condition at Beilinson Hospital.