NEW YORK, NY – Newly-elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a prominent member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is facing his first major controversy before even taking office. A leaked internal document from the NYC-DSA chapter outlines a sweeping list of anti-Israel policy demands being pressed upon the incoming administration, sparking accusations of antisemitism and extremism.
The document, which was reportedly sent by mistake to investigative reporter Jerry Dunleavy, details a comprehensive plan to leverage the city's municipal power against the State of Israel.
The leak comes just days after Mamdani's historic November 4th victory, which saw the 34-year-old become New York City's first Muslim and South Asian mayor.
The "Political Blacklist"
Critics have labeled the memo a "political blacklist" that targets not only Israel but also New York's Jewish community. The proposals detailed in the leaked document are extensive and call on the Mamdani administration to:
Ban Israeli Products: Prohibit the sale of Israeli goods in the city-managed supermarket chains Mamdani has proposed.
Revoke Tax-Exempt Status: Target organizations that support the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) by stripping them of their tax-exempt status.
Terminate City Contracts: End all municipal contracts with Israeli businesses.
Divest City Funds: Pull New York City's pension funds from all Israeli bonds and withdraw city deposits from banks with ties to Israel.
Launch Investigations: Initiate city-level investigations into real estate properties linked to West Bank settlements and probe charities that support the IDF or settler organizations.
Fierce Backlash and Dueling Promises
The revelations have ignited a firestorm of criticism, with opponents warning that the Mamdani administration could turn New York into an "anti-Israel fortress" at a time when residents are primarily concerned with rising crime and a severe cost-of-living crisis.
Jewish political commentator Melanie Notkin posted a sharp rebuke on X (formerly Twitter): "This isn't just anti-Israel—it's targeting Jews, CUNY students, and their humanitarian organizations."
Media outlets, including The Daily Wire and The Yeshiva World, have warned that the city is being dragged into far-left extremism that threatens its long-standing diplomatic and religious community ties.
This alleged agenda creates a sharp conflict with Mamdani's own victory speech, in which he pledged to "serve every New Yorker," specifically including the Jewish community. He also vowed to "fight against both antisemitism and Islamophobia."
Mamdani's successful campaign was built on progressive domestic policies, including a "rent freeze, free transit, expanded childcare, and the creation of a public supermarket chain." The leaked document, however, suggests immense internal pressure from his political base to prioritize a radical foreign policy agenda.
A History of Controversy
Mamdani, who previously served as a state assemblyman, is no stranger to this issue. He has been a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has previously sparked outrage by referring to Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide."
He also introduced the "Not On Our Dime" bill in the state legislature, which sought to prohibit New York-based non-profit organizations from funding Israeli settlement activities. The bill ultimately failed to pass.
The DSA, Mamdani's primary political backing, has itself faced repeated accusations of antisemitism. The group has been criticized for its hardline stance, with members openly cheering for the "liberation of Palestine by any means necessary."
As Mayor-elect Mamdani prepares to be sworn in, New York City faces a critical question: Will his administration focus on the economic and unity-based promises of his campaign, or will he yield to the "extremist" pressure from the DSA, risking turning the world's financial capital into a new front for anti-Israel politics?
(Source material based on reports from Breitbart News, The Daily Wire, The Yeshiva World, and TIME.)