Zohran Mamdani Stirs NYC Mayoral Race with Bold BDS Support and Israel Stance

New York City’s mayoral race just got spicier than a street cart falafel. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman, stood firm on his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel during a heated Q&A hosted by the UJA-Federation of New York on Thursday. Mamdani called BDS a "legitimate movement" rooted in non-violence, aimed at pushing Israel to comply with international law. "It’s about accountability, not aggression," he told the crowd, sidestepping questions on whether Israel should exist as a Jewish state with a deft, "Israel has a right to exist with equal rights for all."

The event wasn’t without drama. Just 24 hours earlier, a pro-Palestinian gunman attacked Israeli Embassy staff in Washington, D.C., and security at the forum was tighter than a subway turnstile. Mamdani, backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, faced scrutiny over a 2021 clip of him leading a BDS chant at an anti-Israel protest. Yet, the crowd gave him a surprisingly warm reception, despite the press being barred from entry.

Mamdani didn’t shy away from bold claims. He doubled down on his stance that, as mayor, he’d order the NYPD to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited NYC, citing an International Criminal Court warrant. "I’d say the same about Putin," he quipped, noting Netanyahu’s alleged military orders issued from the city. His campaign spokesman, Andrew Epstein, reinforced Mamdani’s consistency: "Zohran supports Israel’s existence but demands adherence to international law through non-violent means."

Despite trailing Andrew Cuomo in polls, Mamdani’s campaign is gaining traction, though not without controversy. His endorsement by anti-Israel former Rep. Jamaal Bowman and his failure to sign resolutions recognizing Israel and the Holocaust have raised eyebrows in NYC’s large Jewish community. His push for the "Not On Our Dime Act" to block nonprofit funding for West Bank settlements further fuels the fire. Mamdani’s vision for a "safe and affordable" New York is clear, but his stance on Israel keeps the spotlight firmly on him.