New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Sparks Antisemitism Allegations After Rolling Back Jewish Community Protections
By Sandy Fitzgerald
Friday, 02 January 2026 08:34 AM EST
New York City’s first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, faces criticism after immediately revoking all late-term executive orders enacted by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including protections for the city’s Jewish community.
Mamdani revoked all of Adams’ orders dating from September 26, 2024—the date the former mayor was indicted on federal bribery and campaign finance charges—stating he was making the changes to allow a “fresh start for the incoming administration.” Israel’s foreign ministry accused Mamdani of antisemitism in a post on X, claiming his actions “scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel.”
William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, called the decision a “troubling indicator of the direction in which he is leading the city, just one day at the helm.”
Last June, Adams adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of Jew-hatred through executive order No. 52 and issued several orders aimed at confronting antisemitism. Daroff emphasized that there is “overwhelming consensus” behind the IHRA definition, with numerous cities, states, countries, universities, sports organizations, and governmental bodies relying on it. The definition is critical when hatred of Jews manifests through denial of Jewish self-determination or singling out Israel.
Mamdani initially claimed he was revoking orders made before September 26, 2024, but later stated the revocation applied to orders issued after that date. Adams had created a Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism with a May 13 executive order, which could have been eliminated under Mamdani’s actions. However, the new mayor announced he plans to keep the office open.
Mamdani’s second executive order confirms the continuation of the Office to Combat Antisemitism, stating it will “identify and develop efforts to eliminate antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate crime using the existing resources of the City of New York.” The office released its initial annual report Tuesday before Adams left office, where he noted the protective measures he implemented.
Mamdani’s orders revoked Adams’ December 2 Executive Order 60, which barred city entities and personnel from boycotting or divesting from Israel, as well as Executive Order 61, directing the New York City Police Department to examine zones around houses of worship to prohibit protesting.
The new mayor’s actions do not appear to have affected the Adams-created New York City-Israel Economic Council, which was established outside executive orders. Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, described Mamdani’s early revocations as “hard to overstate how disturbing” for Jewish community safety.
Adams responded by stating that Mamdani “promised a new era and unity today,” adding, “This isn’t new. And it isn’t unity.”
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer covering news, media, and politics.
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