Mamdani's Democrats: New York City's primary results bode ill for US-Israel relations - editorial

New York City's recent House primary results have sent an alarming signal to supporters of Israel and Jewish Democrats, with three candidates openly hostile to the country securing victories. These candidates, endorsed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, are poised to potentially shift the Democratic Party's stance on US-Israel relations.

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I will continue to call for Palestinian liberation. We will stand up to the genocide. We will refuse to abide by apartheid. And we will use our money to improve lives here instead of destroying them abroad.

Among the winners are Brad Lander, who defeated Rep. Dan Goldman in Lower Manhattan; Assembly member Claire Valdez, who won an open seat in Brooklyn; and activist Darializa Avila Chevalier, who ousted Rep. Adriano Espaillat. Valdez declared her intention to "continue to call for Palestinian liberation" and "stand up to the genocide," while Chevalier has unequivocally condemned Israel as an "apartheid state" and denied its right to exist.

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apartheid state

Lander, despite identifying as a "liberal Zionist," has frequently used the term "genocide" to describe the post-war situation in Gaza. All three candidates have ties to the Democratic Socialists of America and advocate for ending US aid to Israel. Mayor Mamdani's comparison of pro-Israel lobbyists AIPAC to "monsters" has drawn criticism from major Jewish organizations, who warn of rising antisemitism and the use of anti-Israel tropes about sinister Jewish influence.

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genocide

The election outcomes are particularly concerning in New York, home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. The fact that candidates, including Jewish individuals, are winning by demonizing Israel suggests a significant shift within the Democratic Party. While denouncing Israel is one of several issues these candidates agree on, its prominence in their campaigns raises questions about the future of the US-Israel alliance.

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genocide