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New York Mayor's 'genocide' claim against Netanyahu is dangerous libel, opinion writers say

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Sources not specified Context piece
  • New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's recent video accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of genocide is sharply criticized by William C. Daroff and Betsy Berns Korn.
  • The authors argue that genocide requires specific intent to destroy a group, which they contend is not present in Israel's war against Hamas, citing Israel's stated objectives and humanitarian actions.
  • They assert that Mamdani's accusation is a dangerous libel that distorts a complex conflict into a morality play and echoes historical anti-Jewish tropes.

William C. Daroff and Betsy Berns Korn, writing for JTA, strongly condemn New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's recent video accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of genocide. They argue that Mamdani's statement is a "dangerous libel" that misrepresents the conflict and echoes historical anti-Jewish sentiments.

Genocide is not a synonym for a brutal war, civilian suffering, or even grave errors in the conduct of war. It requires the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

— William C. Daroff and Betsy Berns KornDefining genocide to distinguish it from the current conflict.

The authors emphasize that genocide is defined by the specific intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, distinguishing it from brutal warfare or grave errors in conflict conduct. They assert that the broader evidence does not establish such intent on Israel's part. Israel entered the war after Hamas's attacks, with stated objectives of defeating Hamas and returning hostages, while maintaining its war is not against the Palestinian people. The authors point to Israel's issuance of evacuation warnings and agreement to humanitarian pauses as actions contradicting claims of genocidal intent.

The broader evidence does not establish such an intent. Israel entered the war after Hamas massacred civilians, took hostages, and promised further attacks.

— William C. Daroff and Betsy Berns KornContradicting the claim of genocidal intent by referencing the context of Israel's entry into the war.

Furthermore, they highlight Mamdani's past remarks, such as calling AIPAC "monsters" and discussing "dark money," as evidence of a pattern of moral demonization. They argue that portraying those with whom he disagrees as monstrous or sinister invokes historical anti-Jewish tropes. This rhetoric, they contend, should concern all New Yorkers and Americans, especially given New York City's large Jewish community, and that Mamdani's framing transforms a complex war into a simplistic morality play where Israel is depicted as absolute evil.

Presenting genocide as established truth is not serious analysis; it is a defamatory libel, false and dangerous.

— William C. Daroff and Betsy Berns KornCharacterizing Mayor Mamdani's accusation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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