Zohran Mamdani's Democratic mayoral primary victory has caused unease among New York Jewish leaders due to his pro-Palestinian stance. While Republican figures have spread Islamophobic narratives in response, local Jewish perspectives differ significantly. Eli Goldman, a Jewish business owner in Mamdani's district, sees him as a decent person despite concerns about his handling of Hamas and anti-Zionism. Astoria, a diverse neighborhood with a large Jewish community, reflects nuanced views shaped by personal experiences rather than national politics. Goldman notes his interactions with Mamdani and finds no signs of antisemitism.
Goldman, 36, is disappointed Mamdani failed to condemn Hamas by name after the Oct. 7 attack, and wished the candidate had responded differently when he refused to denounce the pro-Palestinian slogan 'globalize the intifada,' which some see as a call to violence against Jews.
While some Republicans warn a Muslim mayor will turn New York City into an Islamic caliphate, and some New York Jews debate whether a mayor who opposes Zionism can effectively lead at a time of rising antisemitism, missing from the discussion is the voice of the sizeable Jewish community in Astoria, Queens that Mamdani has represented since 2021.
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