Zohran Mamdani’s anti-Israel position roils New York mayoral race

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, has centred his campaign on a position that has provoked sharp debate both domestically and internationally. His outspoken opposition to Israel and its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has become a defining element of his political platform.

Mamdani has repeatedly called Netanyahu a “war criminal” guilty of “genocide in Gaza” and vowed that, if elected, he would order the New York Police Department to arrest the Israeli leader should he set foot in the city.

Mamdani’s promise is not rhetorical. Throughout his campaign, he has provided detailed explanations of how he would act on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant issued in November 2024 for Netanyahu’s arrest. The warrant accuses the Israeli prime minister of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, including the deliberate deprivation of food, water, and medicine to civilians. Mamdani insists that he would have Netanyahu arrested upon arrival at the airport, framing the issue as a test of whether local governments can defend international law and moral values in the absence of federal leadership. He has compared his stance to Gavin Newsom’s decision as mayor of San Francisco in 2004 to defy federal law by issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples, declaring that New York should show the same kind of resolve.

The feasibility of Mamdani’s plan has been widely questioned. Legal experts argue that arresting Netanyahu would be virtually impossible and could place the city in violation of federal law, as the US does not recognise the ICC or its jurisdiction. Scholars also note that such an action would likely contravene both state and city law, while Netanyahu could claim immunity as a head of state under international law. Any move by the mayor’s office in this direction would almost certainly spark a confrontation with the federal government.

Despite the legal obstacles, Mamdani’s pledge has captured public attention and sharply divided opinion in New York, home to the world’s second-largest Jewish population. A New York Times/Siena University poll indicates that public attitudes towards the conflict are shifting, with 46 per cent of New Yorkers siding with Palestinians in the war with Hamas compared to 29 per cent backing Israel. The same survey found majority support for Mamdani’s overall position on the issue.

Critics, however, have been quick to attack his views as extreme. The advocacy group StopAntisemitism described polling trends in Mamdani’s favour as “deeply troubling” and warned that his victory would normalise antisemitism. Detractors have pointed to his refusal, at least initially, to condemn the phrase “globalise the intifada”, his record of backing economic boycotts of Israel, and past comments suggesting that Israel is “not a place” and “not a country”. His family background has also attracted scrutiny, with some critics highlighting his father’s association with an anti-Israel group accused of legitimising suicide bombings.

Mamdani’s anti-Israel posture extends to financial policy. He has promised to end New York City’s pension fund investments in Israeli bonds, arguing that they conflict with the city’s values. His principal rival in the race, former governor Andrew Cuomo, has taken the opposite stance, going as far as to volunteer for Netanyahu’s legal defence team. The contrast between the two candidates could hardly be sharper.

President Donald Trump has entered the debate with characteristic force. As president, Trump has been an outspoken critic of the ICC, imposing sanctions on its officials and declaring that it has no jurisdiction over either the United States or Israel. He has defended Netanyahu against the warrant and now sees Mamdani’s pledge as a direct challenge. Appearing alongside Netanyahu, Trump dismissed the mayoral candidate’s threats, warning Mamdani to “better behave – otherwise, he’s going to have big problems”. Netanyahu himself responded with nonchalance, suggesting he might even travel with Trump to New York to test whether Mamdani would act.

Trump’s advisers have explored ways to intervene in the mayoral race, including attempts to consolidate support behind Cuomo by promising roles in the federal administration to other contenders. Yet the president now appears increasingly resigned to Mamdani’s possible victory. He has derided him as “my little communist” and framed his rise in the polls as part of a wider “rebellion” against weak candidates. Trump has also hinted that he is already considering how to wield leverage over a Mamdani administration.

For Mamdani’s campaign, Trump’s attacks are proof of an establishment backlash. His team has portrayed the interventions as “backroom scheming from Donald Trump and the billionaire class”, arguing that such efforts are failing as voters rally to his side.

The clash between Mamdani and Trump also represents a wider ideological battle. Mamdani represents a progressive, anti-establishment, and uncompromisingly anti-Israel current in American politics. Trump stands as a defender of Israel, of federal authority, and of conservative values. The outcome of the New York mayoral race will determine not only the city’s leadership but also the extent to which these two opposing visions of America’s role in the world can coexist.