Key Takeaways
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has revoked the city’s implementation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which includes some forms of Israel criticism.
- The revocation is part of a broader rejection of his predecessor’s executive orders, including those related to Israel and antisemitism.
- Mamdani’s move has been criticized by some who argue that it may chill efforts to combat antisemitism in the city.
- The revocation also nullified an order opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel, which Mamdani supports.
- The Office to Combat Antisemitism, established by the previous mayor, will remain in place, but its future direction and definition of antisemitism are unclear.
Introduction to the New Mayor’s Policies
In a significant move, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has revoked the city’s implementation of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. This definition includes some forms of Israel criticism as antisemitic. The revocation is part of a broader rejection of his predecessor’s executive orders, including those related to Israel and antisemitism. Mamdani, a far-left anti-Zionist, took office with the start of the new year, replacing the staunchly pro-Israel administration of former Mayor Eric Adams.
The Revocation of Executive Orders
Mamdani’s executive order revoked all executive orders implemented by Adams since September 26, 2024, when Adams was indicted for corruption. The corruption charges were later dismissed amid allegations of shady dealings between Adams and the Justice Department of US President Donald Trump. Mamdani’s campaign said the revocations would ensure "a fresh start for the incoming administration." The revocation covers Adams’s implementation of the IHRA definition, which has been adopted by a broad range of national and local governments worldwide, as well as other institutions. However, the definition has also drawn opposition from those who say its inclusion of some forms of criticism of Israel chills legitimate political speech.
Implications of the Revocation
The revocation of the IHRA definition could have significant implications for the city’s approach to antisemitism. The definition says that denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination is discriminatory, which could pose a problem for Mamdani, who has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. The definition also says it is antisemitic to claim "that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor." Mamdani’s executive order also nullified an order that opposed the campaign to boycott Israel, which Mamdani supports. Another order that has been revoked instructed the NYPD to reassess how it handles protests at houses of worship, a move Adams took after a vitriolic demonstration outside a synagogue.
The Future of the Office to Combat Antisemitism
Mamdani did not axe the Office to Combat Antisemitism, which Adams established in May. The office will remain in place, but its future direction and definition of antisemitism are unclear. The director of the office, Rabbi Moshe Davis, a close aide to Adams, said he had not received any word from the Mamdani team and it was unclear if he would remain in his position. Mamdani’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for information about the office. The decision on how to define antisemitism is consequential because it could influence how and whether anti-Zionist speech is tolerated in city agencies, including the NYPD, the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, and the school system.
Mamdani’s Approach to Antisemitism
Mamdani has condemned classic expressions of antisemitism, such as swastika graffiti and tropes about Jewish greed, while defending or espousing anti-Zionist rhetoric that the mainstream Jewish community finds discriminatory. Last week, a report from the Anti-Defamation League surveying ties between Mamdani appointees and anti-Zionist groups included among its findings that one appointee had said that Zionists are worse than Nazis. In response to the report, Mamdani said, "We must distinguish between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government, and the ADL’s report oftentimes ignores this distinction, and in doing so, it draws attention away from the very real crisis of antisemitism." The move has been criticized by some who argue that it may chill efforts to combat antisemitism in the city.