Mamdani defends AIPAC criticism after backlash from Jewish leaders
The New York mayor said his remarks targeted AIPAC’s political spending and support for Israel policy, not Jewish New Yorkers.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended his criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee after some Jewish leaders and elected officials objected to his language, Al Jazeera reported. The dispute matters because Israel policy and pro-Israel campaign spending have become central issues in Democratic primary contests in New York.
Speaking at City Hall on Monday, Mamdani said his criticism was aimed at AIPAC as an organization and at its role in defending existing US and Israeli policy in the region, according to Al Jazeera. He described that status quo as immoral and said, according to the outlet, that it had failed to bring safety to Palestinians or others in the region.
Al Jazeera reported that Mamdani was responding to questions about comments he made at a Vermont rally last week, where he accused AIPAC of using “millions in dark money” in a New York primary race and said people should not have to fear “monsters.” The remarks drew criticism from some Jewish leaders, according to the outlet.
Mamdani also pointed to Gaza during his Monday remarks, Al Jazeera reported. The mayor said more than 1,000 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli forces since a US-brokered ceasefire was reached last October to halt Israel’s war in Gaza.
The mayor said AIPAC protects the status quo through campaign activity, including direct financial support in New York’s 13th Congressional District, according to Al Jazeera. Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, the outlet reported.
New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer sharply criticized Mamdani’s comments in a post on X, according to Al Jazeera. Gottheimer accused the mayor of “laundering antisemitism” and argued that substituting “Jews” for “AIPAC” would echo a long-running antisemitic conspiracy theory.
The dispute is unfolding as Democratic primary races in New York test the party’s direction, Al Jazeera reported. The winners will become the party’s nominees for November’s midterm elections, and candidates’ positions on Israel have become a major point of division, according to the outlet.
One race drawing attention is in New York’s 13th District. Al Jazeera reported that longtime incumbent Adriano Espaillat, who has served since 2017, has received praise from AIPAC, while Mamdani-backed candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier has faced criticism for attending a pro-Palestinian protest one day after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
Chevalier has said she attended the protest in expectation of Israel’s response against Palestinian civilians, according to Al Jazeera. Federal Election Commission filings cited by the outlet show that AIPAC’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, made two contributions last month totaling more than $600,000 to BOLD America, a group funding ads supporting Espaillat.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.