Antisemitism watchdog issues scathing ‘alarm bell’ report on Mamdani as NYC election nears
In a timely and critical examination, the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP) has released a comprehensive report detailing concerns surrounding Zohran Mamdani, the socialist candidate for mayor of New York City. With Election Day looming, the report titled “Zohran Mamdani: From SJP to Gracie Mansion?” outlines Mamdani’s controversial background, including his connections to anti-Israel sentiments and figures. Charles Asher Small, ISGAP’s founding director, emphasized the importance of understanding Mamdani’s ideological roots, which he argues could have significant implications for the Jewish community in New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
The report scrutinizes Mamdani’s previous affiliations, particularly his founding of the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College and his reluctance to condemn inflammatory phrases associated with violence against Israel. Notably, Mamdani has faced backlash for his comments on the recent Hamas attacks, which he downplayed, while labeling Israel’s response as “genocide.” Additionally, his political associations, including a controversial photo with Imam Siraj Wahhaj—linked to past terrorism cases—have raised alarms in law enforcement and among community leaders. The report warns that Mamdani’s election could undermine decades of progress in fostering Jewish security and community trust, framing his rise as a manifestation of radical anti-Zionism cloaked in populist rhetoric.
Despite the fervent opposition from many in the Jewish community, including a coalition of rabbis urging voters to reject Mamdani, he continues to maintain a leading position in the polls. ISGAP points out that Mamdani’s appeal lies in his ability to resonate with disenchanted voters, particularly the youth, by addressing issues of economic and social marginalization with seemingly radical yet attractive solutions. However, the report concludes with a stark warning that electing Mamdani could jeopardize the fragile communal harmony in New York City, as his ideology intertwines with a broader trend of antisemitism and anti-democratic rhetoric gaining traction across various political spectrums. The implications of this electoral decision extend far beyond local politics, potentially reshaping the landscape of Jewish safety and representation in America.
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FIRST ON FOX:
Fox News Digital exclusively spoke with the antisemitism research institute that released an 11th hour comprehensive report that summarized its concerns about New York City socialist mayoral candidate
Zohran Mamdani.
With just hours to go before Election Day, the report underscores the heightened scrutiny facing the socialist nominee.
“It is incumbent on voters to understand the ideological context that Zohran Mamdani comes from and espouses,” said Charles Asher Small, founding director of The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy (ISGAP), told Fox News Digital.
The ISGAP Action report, titled,
“Zohran Mamdani: From SJP to Gracie Mansion?,”
dives into Mamdani’s background and rise to prominence. It explains the
controversial views
of his father, a professor at Columbia University, on Israel, as well as how Zohran founded the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at Bowdoin College, his past statements and positions, and lists the anti-Israel individuals who endorse him for mayor.
The report concludes with a section that explores the implications of Mamdani’s agenda.
‘ABSOLUTELY A COMMUNIST’: MAMDANI DODGES LABEL, BUT HIS RECORD AND EXPERT SAY OTHERWISE
“He has repeatedly declined to condemn the slogan ‘globalize the intifada,’ ignoring the fact that the word ‘intifada’ is synonymous with terror attacks, suicide bombings, and incitement to kill Jews,” the report states. Mamdani has refused to
explicitly condemn
the phrase, instead simply saying he would “discourage” others from using it.
The report states that Mamdani “downplayed” the Oct. 7 massacre carried out by Hamas while characterizing Israel’s response as “genocide,” and hits him for introducing a bill to “punish New York charities that support Israel.”
Mamdani
sparked a political firestorm
last month, drawing outrage from the law enforcement community, after posting a smiling photo with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, a Brooklyn cleric who served as a character witness for the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and has been a longtime defender of convicted terrorists, raising funds for their legal defenses.
The ISGAP Action report mentions that association, while also looking into some other controversial associations the Mamdani campaign holds when it comes to radical Islam, which Fox News Digital
reported on last week
, including taking a $100,000 donation from The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) through a super PAC, “despite being named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror-financing trial.”
MAMDANI’S MOTHER IN UNEARTHED 2013 INTERVIEW: ‘HE IS NOT AN AMERICAN AT ALL’
“The normalization of antisemitism and anti-democratic rhetoric is now mainstream,” Small told Fox News Digital.
“The radical left, the extreme right and radical political Islam are attacking the democratic center, and these different political movements use antisemitism as a core element of their ideology, to scapegoat and blame the Jews for all that is wrong,” he said. “It is essential to understand that words and ideas lead to action. The antisemitic discourse of Mamdani will inevitably lead to increased hate and violence.”
Hundreds of rabbis joined together to oppose Mamdani last month,
Fox News Digital reported
, declaring in a letter their position that Jewish Americans “cannot remain silent” on discrimination against Jewish people and calling on voters to reject Mamdani.
Despite the fervent opposition from many in the Jewish community and numerous viral clips showing Mamdani — in his own words — using inflammatory language toward Israel, he holds a commanding lead in the polls heading into the election, and has also drawn support from some Jewish leaders.
“There are significant levels of economic, social and political marginalization in New York and throughout the nation,” Small told Fox News Digital about Mamdani’s popularity. “People are frustrated as their needs are not being met. In stressful times, populism and extremism become more appealing. Mamdani appears to be addressing the disenfranchised, especially the young. He gives fantastical policies that are appealing, yet will be impossible to deliver.”
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In the conclusion of the report, ISGAP Action makes the case that a Mamdani victory could potentially “shatter the city’s fragile communal trust and roll back decades of hard-won progress in protecting Jewish life.”
“Zohran Mamdani’s rise is not simply the story of an ambitious local politician riding a wave of discontent over rents and inequality,” the report states.
“It is the story of how radical anti-Zionism has been repackaged as socialist, populist, progressive politics — and how this ideology now threatens to erode the sense of security for New York’s Jewish community, the largest Jewish community outside of Israel, and whitewash and legitimize anti-Zionism, support for terrorism, and even antisemitism.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign for comment.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
