Israel's Consul General in New York, Ambassador Ofir Akunis, delivered a stark warning Monday about the safety of Jewish life in the city, declaring unequivocally that Jews in New York are currently facing tangible danger.
In an interview on Kan Moreshet, Akunis was asked directly whether Jews in New York are facing real danger right now. His answer was a single, unequivocal word: yes. Akunis said New York, once regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming cities in the world for Jewish life, has undergone a dramatic deterioration in recent years, describing a growing climate of hostility that has moved beyond public discourse and into the streets.
According to the consul, the trend traces back to unchecked protests on American university campuses that gradually expanded into public demonstrations, inflammatory rhetoric, and extremist calls targeting Jews and Israel. He said that over the past year, some protests had been deliberately directed toward neighborhoods with large Jewish populations, intensifying fear within those communities. He pointed to a rising rate of physical attacks on Jews in the city, saying such incidents now occur with far greater frequency than in the past, and noted that extremist symbols and chants have begun appearing in public spaces in ways that would have been unimaginable in prior years.
During the interview, Akunis also took aim at American politicians, including New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, arguing that statements critical of Israel contribute to a hostile atmosphere for the city's Jewish residents. He said much of the criticism and many of the comparisons leveled at Israeli policy stem from what he described as deep ignorance and a lack of understanding of the realities Israel faces.
Akunis further criticized law enforcement and government officials, saying that while there has been some official acknowledgment of the rise in antisemitic incidents, a far stronger response is needed. He said condemnations from politicians are not enough on their own, calling instead for strict enforcement, a firm response, and genuine prosecution of hate crimes.
The remarks come amid an escalating public dispute between Akunis and Mamdani. The two have clashed repeatedly in recent months, including after Mamdani revoked his predecessor's executive orders tied to Israel and adopted policies around antisemitism definitions and boycotts that Akunis said posed an immediate threat to Jewish safety in the city.
Most recently, after Mamdani told ABC News he could not say he supports Israel as a Jewish state, Akunis responded sharply, saying Mamdani did not need to grant Israel his recognition and accusing the mayor of spending his time inciting and spreading hatred rather than understanding the history behind Israel's founding.
Akunis has separately warned that Mamdani's rhetoric will, in his words, end in very serious and violent acts against Jewish and Israeli communities throughout the city.
