Mamdani Escalates War on Pro-Israel Lobby
The New York City Mayor faces fierce criticism after branding AIPAC as monsters and stepping up his consistent, systematic attacks against Israel
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani launched a scathing assault against the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC during a Brooklyn campaign rally for the Democratic congressional primaries. Speaking alongside Senator Bernie Sanders, Mayor Mamdani labeled the prominent pro-Israel group as part of the monsters confronting American politics and accused the organization of wielding improper influence over U.S. governance. He claimed that the pro-Israel lobby operates out of fear of democratic processes and works to preserve its power by injecting millions of dollars of dark money into campaigns, alleging that the group's primary goal is to prolong the war in Gaza.
A Pattern of Anti-Israel Hostility
This latest outburst highlights Mamdani's continuous efforts to undermine pro-Israel advocacy, marking a continuation of the aggressive, anti-Israel stance he has maintained since taking office as mayor. Mainstream political figures and Jewish community leaders have strongly condemned the rhetoric, pointing out that his frequent attacks on Israel and its supporters rely on deeply divisive tropes that fracture the city's diverse coalition and demonize mainstream Jewish political engagement.
During his address at the Brooklyn campaign rally for the Democratic congressional primaries, Mamdani specifically directed an appeal to religious communities, calling on Jewish, Muslim, and Christian voters alike to reject fear and back progressive candidates. He declared that "whether citizens pray in a synagogue, a mosque, a church, or do not pray at all, New York deserves leaders who lead with hope rather than fear".