Israeli minister calls on New York Jews to leave after mayoral election

Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Minister, Amichai Chikli, has urged the Jewish community in New York to consider leaving the city following the election of Muslim Democrat Zohran Mamdani as mayor.

Chikli took to his social media account to criticize the newly elected mayor, claiming he supports Hamas, Caliber.Az reports.

“A city once a symbol of global freedom has handed the keys to power to a Hamas sympathizer, a man whose views are not far removed from the jihadist fanatics who killed 3,000 of the city’s residents 25 years ago. New York will never be the same, especially for its Jewish community,” the minister wrote.

He further suggested that Jews should contemplate relocating, specifically recommending Israel as a new home. “The American city is heading into an abyss,” Chikli added, emphasizing the gravity of the situation for the local Jewish population.

Zohran Mamdani, representing the Democratic Party, was elected mayor of New York on November 4.

Mamdani, in pre-election statements, pledged to order the New York Police Department to arrest Netanyahu if he visits the city, honoring an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over the war crimes the premier committed in the Gaza Strip.

He also repeatedly denounced anti-semitism and expressed support for the Jewish community in the city.

Mamdani, who holds over 50% of the vote in the three-way contest with 91% of the votes counted, enjoys the support of a broad and diverse base of voters, including Jews who reject the Netanyahu government’s policies, particularly during the two years of genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.

By Vafa Guliyeva