New York Mayor’s Move to Lift Anti-Boycott Restrictions Sparks Jewish Community Alarm

By Solange Reyner | Friday, 02 January 2026 06:25 PM EST

The president of the Zionist Organization of America condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s order canceling executive orders issued by his predecessor that had barred city agencies from boycotting Israel and defined some criticism of Israel as antisemitic.

Morton Klein, in a statement, called Mamdani “an avowed anti-Zionist and BDS supporter,” adding that his actions were “hateful” and “dangerous anti-Jewish revocations.”

Klein warned: “For anyone who believed Mamdani’s affordability propaganda, this should be a wake-up call that Mamdani will use every lever of his power as mayor to harm the Jewish State of Israel and New York’s Jewish community.”

The Israeli government accused Mayor Mamdani of antisemitism over the canceled orders. The Foreign Ministry stated: “On his very first day as NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel.”

Israel’s consul general in New York, Ofir Akunis, said Mamdani’s decision posed “an immediate threat to the safety of Jewish communities in New York City and could lead to an increase in violent antisemitic attacks throughout the city.”

A coalition including the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee, and UJA Federation of New York also opposed the cancellation.

New York City hosts the largest Jewish population outside Israel.

In response, Mayor Mamdani stated: “Protecting Jewish New Yorkers is going to be a focus of my administration. My action on executive orders has given it ‘a clean slate to get to work on delivering a new era for New Yorkers.’ My administration will also be marked by a city government that will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division, including fighting antisemitism by funding hate crime prevention, celebrating our neighbors, and practicing a politics of universality.”