ADL Launches Monitoring Initiative Against New York City Mayor Over Anti-Israel Ties

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) announced an unprecedented initiative to monitor New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration, citing concerns over his record of anti-Israel statements and associations with individuals accused of antisemitism. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt stated the “Mamdani Monitor” and a new antisemitism hotline were necessary to “protect Jewish New Yorkers during a period of unprecedented antisemitism” in the city, which has the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel.

Greenblatt criticized Mamdani for promoting antisemitic narratives, associating with figures linked to antisemitism, and expressing hostility toward the Jewish state. The initiative follows Mamdani’s election as mayor in a highly divisive race, during which he supported the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and refused to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. The ADL cited alarming statistics, including 976 antisemitic incidents in New York City in 2024—the highest in any U.S. city—and noted that 54% of hate crimes in the city targeted Jews last year.

The ADL’s efforts include a public tracker to monitor City Hall’s actions, a hotline for reporting harassment or threats against Jewish individuals and institutions, and enhanced research to assess Mamdani’s policies. Other Jewish organizations, including the UJA-Federation of New York, expressed alarm over Mamdani’s election, calling his views “fundamentally at odds with our community’s deepest convictions.”

Mamdani’s victory has divided Jewish New Yorkers, with some expressing cautious optimism and others voicing concern. During his campaign, Mamdani faced accusations of antisemitism for condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and resisting calls to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada.” In his victory speech, he pledged to stand against antisemitism but faced skepticism from critics who called his promises hollow. The ADL vowed to remain vigilant, stating it would be “relentless and unyielding” in safeguarding Jewish New Yorkers.