Germany’s ‘good Jews’ thought they were safe; New York should pay attention - comment

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video explaining his inability to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a promise he had reportedly made since December 2024. The mayor's office stated that city lawyers advised against such an action, but the video proceeded to detail Mamdani's accusations against Israel's conduct in its conflict.

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It was gunning down hundreds of aid workers and journalists. Netanyahu was the architect of a horrific genocide, a war criminal, not welcome in New York City.

Mamdani accused Israel of targeting neonatal care centers, causing widespread starvation, and killing hundreds of aid workers and journalists. He characterized Netanyahu as the "architect of a horrific genocide" and a "war criminal" unwelcome in New York City. The mayor also singled out Israel as the sole "bad" country outside the United States, excluding nations like China, Iran, and North Korea from similar condemnation.

Following Mamdani's remarks, Zohran Mamdani was present at City Hall, suggesting protests against Netanyahu at the United Nations in September. He affirmed his commitment to representing all New Yorkers, regardless of their agreement with his views.

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Shame on you.

The mayor's video and statements have provoked severe backlash from Jewish organizations. The UJA-Federation issued a statement saying, "Shame on you," while the Orthodox Union declared that the video "endangers Jewish New Yorkers" and accused the mayor of peddling "lies and misinformation that risk inciting further violence against Jews." Gadi Eisenkot, a political figure who has sought to oppose Netanyahu, described the mayor's comments as "pure antisemitism, with no basis in fact."

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The Orthodox Union said the video “endangers Jewish New Yorkers” and that the mayor peddles “lies and misinformation that risk inciting further violence against Jews.”

The author of the article, Zvika Klein, draws a parallel to historical antisemitism in Germany, referencing Max Naumann, an attorney and World War I veteran who founded the Association of German National Jews in 1921. Naumann's theory posited that antisemitism was a reaction to certain Jewish behaviors, such as perceived foreign manners or perceived divided loyalties, suggesting that removing these "provocations" would diminish hatred.

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It’s pure antisemitism, with no basis in fact.