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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office Thursday with deep rifts remaining between his administration and some members of the city’s Jewish community. | Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, after nixing a pair of executive orders that dealt with antisemitism and boycotting Israel, defended his actions amid fallout that has included sharp criticism from the Israeli government and concerns from local Jewish groups.
As one of his first acts as mayor, Mamdani declined to renew two executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams: One that adopted a broad definition of antisemitism and another that prohibited city employees from engaging in the boycott, divest and sanctions movement against Israel.
The defunct orders were part of a suite of mayoral decrees signed by Adams that Mamdani revoked. During an unrelated press briefing Friday, Mamdani pledged to protect Jewish New Yorkers, but did not go into much detail about why he tossed the orders.
“My administration will also be marked by a city government that will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division, and we will showcase that by fighting hate across the city,” he said. “That includes fighting the scourge of antisemitism by actually funding hate crime prevention, by celebrating our neighbors and by practicing a politics of universality.”
As for the definition of antisemitism adopted by Adams, which was promulgated by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Mamdani noted that many Jewish organizations in the city do not abide by the interpretation, which, for example, equates some criticisms of Israel’s actions as antisemitic.
“I also know that a number, as you said, of leading Jewish organizations have immense concerns around this definition,” Mamdani said, addressing a reporter who had asked about the orders.
Mamdani himself has supported the boycott, divest and sanctions movement against Israel, making his move to toss an executive order banning it in city government unsurprising.
Upon taking office Thursday, Mamdani was required to sift through years of Adams-era executive orders, choosing to renew, revise or revoke them. The new mayor opted to nix every executive order signed after Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges and the motivation for his actions in office came under suspicion. However, there were several exceptions, including a decree to establish the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism and another that prohibits protests within a certain distance of houses of worship.
Mamdani took office Thursday with deep rifts remaining between his administration and some members of the city’s Jewish community who have been critical of his past comments opposing Israeli military action in Gaza and its right to exist as an explicitly Jewish state.
On Friday, a collection of Jewish groups, including the UJA-Federation of New York, the New York chapter of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the New York Board of Rabbis, released a statement arguing Mamdani’s actions took away two significant protections against antisemitism, though they praised him for retaining the other two elements of Adams’ policy.
“Our community will be looking for clear and sustained leadership that demonstrates a serious commitment to confronting antisemitism and ensures that the powers of the mayor’s office are used to promote safety and unity, not to advance divisive efforts such as BDS,” the statement read. “Singling out Israel for sanctions is not the way to make Jewish New Yorkers feel included and safe, and will undermine any words to that effect.”
Comments from the Israeli government were more pointed. (Mamdani has expressed his desire to arrest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the basis of an International Criminal Court warrant.)
“On his very first day as New York City Mayor Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” Israel’s foreign ministry said in a post. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
Mamdani defends eliminating executive orders on antisemitism, boycotting Israel
By Joe Anuta01/02/2026 05:10 PM EST
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office Thursday with deep rifts remaining between his administration and some members of the city’s Jewish community. | Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography OfficeNEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, after nixing a pair of executive orders that dealt with antisemitism and boycotting Israel, defended his actions amid fallout that has included sharp criticism from the Israeli government and concerns from local Jewish groups.
As one of his first acts as mayor, Mamdani declined to renew two executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams: One that adopted a broad definition of antisemitism and another that prohibited city employees from engaging in the boycott, divest and sanctions movement against Israel.
The defunct orders were part of a suite of mayoral decrees signed by Adams that Mamdani revoked. During an unrelated press briefing Friday, Mamdani pledged to protect Jewish New Yorkers, but did not go into much detail about why he tossed the orders.
“My administration will also be marked by a city government that will be relentless in its efforts to combat hate and division, and we will showcase that by fighting hate across the city,” he said. “That includes fighting the scourge of antisemitism by actually funding hate crime prevention, by celebrating our neighbors and by practicing a politics of universality.”
As for the definition of antisemitism adopted by Adams, which was promulgated by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, Mamdani noted that many Jewish organizations in the city do not abide by the interpretation, which, for example, equates some criticisms of Israel’s actions as antisemitic.
“I also know that a number, as you said, of leading Jewish organizations have immense concerns around this definition,” Mamdani said, addressing a reporter who had asked about the orders.
Mamdani himself has supported the boycott, divest and sanctions movement against Israel, making his move to toss an executive order banning it in city government unsurprising.
Upon taking office Thursday, Mamdani was required to sift through years of Adams-era executive orders, choosing to renew, revise or revoke them. The new mayor opted to nix every executive order signed after Adams was indicted on federal bribery charges and the motivation for his actions in office came under suspicion. However, there were several exceptions, including a decree to establish the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism and another that prohibits protests within a certain distance of houses of worship.
Mamdani took office Thursday with deep rifts remaining between his administration and some members of the city’s Jewish community who have been critical of his past comments opposing Israeli military action in Gaza and its right to exist as an explicitly Jewish state.
On Friday, a collection of Jewish groups, including the UJA-Federation of New York, the New York chapter of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the New York Board of Rabbis, released a statement arguing Mamdani’s actions took away two significant protections against antisemitism, though they praised him for retaining the other two elements of Adams’ policy.
“Our community will be looking for clear and sustained leadership that demonstrates a serious commitment to confronting antisemitism and ensures that the powers of the mayor’s office are used to promote safety and unity, not to advance divisive efforts such as BDS,” the statement read. “Singling out Israel for sanctions is not the way to make Jewish New Yorkers feel included and safe, and will undermine any words to that effect.”
Comments from the Israeli government were more pointed. (Mamdani has expressed his desire to arrest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the basis of an International Criminal Court warrant.)
“On his very first day as New York City Mayor Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” Israel’s foreign ministry said in a post. “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
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