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New Yorkers have expressed skepticism after Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani appears to have tried to distance himself from the phrase “globalize the intifadas” after spending months refusing to condemn many phrases as calls for violence against Jews.
The New York Times reported that Mamdani, a Muslim and a self-proclaimed socialist who is highly critical of the Israeli state, told the city’s business leader that he “dissuades” him from using phrases and doing so.
The Times reported that Mamdani had 150 business executives attending a meeting at Rockefeller Center that many people use the phrase to express solidarity with the Palestinians, while others view it as a call for anti-Semitic violence.
This comes after Mamdani refused to condemn Intifada through his campaign for the Democratic mayoral appointment. In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” in June, Mamdani said, “My concern is to start walking along the lines of language and clarify what languages I think are acceptable or acceptable.
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Zohran Mamdani previously refused to condemn the “globalization of intifadas” rhetoric while running for the Democratic nomination of New York City mayor. (Bing Guan/Reuters)
He said, “In the end it’s not the language I use. It’s a language and I understand that there are concerns.
Now, weeks after winning the Democratic nomination and facing general election voters, he appears to have finally stepped back from Intifada.
Joe Borelli, a former Republican New York City Council member, responded to the shift, telling Fox News Digital, “It’s hard to imagine a change of heart as real when it happened right after you had to win the primary and pivot for the general.”
“The presumed mayor of New York City must be able to reject the “intifada” call without morally disgusting and unacceptable ambiguity or qualifications,” Rory Rankman, a Democrat and former New York City councillor and state legislator, told Fox News Digital.
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Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani will speak at NBC Studios on June 4, 2025 in New York City in a major debate for the New York City Democrats. (Yuki Iwamura/Getty Images)
“The issue does not involve the question of ‘screwing the needle’ or the middle ground, or whether or not Israel should disappear as a Jewish nation,” continued Rankman.
“These are basic and honest ‘good and evil’ questions that Mamdani struggles with. Frankly, he’s on the wrong side of the equation,” Rankman said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Christopher Hahn and former assistant Democrat, Sen. Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) told Fox News Digital, “Mandani issued a statement indicating that he is not an anti-Semite, but some of his past statements could be interpreted that way.”
Hahn said that Mamdani “If you want to be mayor, make it very clear, quickly, and often he is not anti-Semitic.”
“If he’s going to try and get his opponent to portray him as one,” Hearn said.
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On February 25, 2024, the sun sets on the skyline of one World Trade Center in New York City as it runs along the Hudson River in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Gary Harshawn/Getty Images)
The Democratic top leaders have called for Mamdani to condemn the call to globalize Intifadas.
In an interview with WNYC Radio host Brian Lehrer in late June, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the phrase was commonly received as a call to “slaughter Jews,” and Mamdani said he needed to understand how the phrase is being perceived by the Jewish community.
“It doesn’t matter what you mean to your brain. That’s not the way words are received. When you use words like Intifada – for many Jewish Americans and Jewish New Yorkers, that means you’re allowing violence against Jews,” Gillibrand said.
The actor says that Mamdani doesn’t do enough to deal with anti-Semitism, feels “uncomfortable” to admit that he is Jewish
Mamdani will face three other opponents in November, unless one of his challengers drops out. (Getty Images)
House Minority Leader Councilman Hakeem Jeffries, DN.Y., said mayoral candidates must clarify this position with the phrase.
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“For example, globalizing an intifada is not an acceptable phrase,” Jeffries said. “As he moves forward, he will have to clarify his position.”
He said, “In regards to the Jewish community I represent, I think our candidates must convince people that he is ready to actively deal with the rise of anti-Semitism in New York City.
Mamdani is running to fire current New York mayor Eric Adams, who is running for reelection as an independent. He is also facing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. He lost the Democratic primary and is also running as an independent. Activist Curtis Swa is running for mayor as a Republican.
Hanna Panreck of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
Peter Pinedo is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
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