Mamdani’s first decision angers Tel Aviv

Within hours of taking office in New York City, Mayor Zohar Mamdani has revoked several pro-Israel executive orders. Palestinian rights activists have praised his move. However, the Israeli government has strongly condemned it. The New York Times reported. Last Thursday (January 1), on his first day as mayor, Zohar Mamdani revoked all executive orders issued by his predecessor Eric Adams after September 26, 2024. Adams was indicted on bribery and corruption charges that day.
One of the executive orders revoked was a ban on boycotts of Israel. In this case, the mayor’s officials were prohibited from making any agreements that could discriminate against the state of Israel, Israeli citizens or people associated with US allies.
Eric Adams signed the executive orders at the end of his term. Critics see them as a way to create controversy for the Mamdani administration. Another executive order was rescinded, which adopted a controversial definition of anti-Semitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). Palestinian rights activists say the definition was used to silence reasonable criticism of Israeli policies or actions by labeling them as “anti-Semitism.”
Nasrin Issa, a member of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said that Israel and its supporters have long sought to “criminalize dissent.” She added, “Mamdani’s decision is a bold and positive step in protecting the rights of New Yorkers and the dignity of Palestinians.” Afaf Nasser, head of the New York branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), welcomed the decision, saying, “This policy, which grants Israel special privileges in an unconstitutional manner, should not have been enacted.”
However, Israel has expressed outrage at Mamdani’s decision. The country’s Foreign Ministry said yesterday that the newly elected mayor was starting to show his true colors. “This is not leadership. This is like pouring anti-Semitism on a burning fire,” the ministry wrote on social media. Israel’s Exile Minister Amichai Chikli described Mamdani as “sympathetic to Hamas” and compared him to London’s Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan. But analysts say the accusations are unfounded.