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Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Zohran Mamdani ripped for refusing to recognize Israel as Jewish state: ‘Dangerous point of view'
Jewish leaders condemned Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani Thursday for his repeated refusals to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state — slamming it as a disqualifying and 'dangerous' point of view. 'It's more than problematic,' said Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. 'Jews see this as a dividing line. 'There are 22 Arab Muslim states,' Potasnik noted. 'In Mamdani's world, there isn't room for one Jewish state. He doesn't want a Jewish State.' Mamdani, a pro-Palestinian state Assembly member from Queens who has supported the BDS movement to boycott Israel, has repeatedly been dogged by the issue as he campaigns for the Democratic mayoral nomination. During Wednesday night's NBC 4 NY-Politico primary debate, Mamdani hedged and again refused to answer the question. 'I believe Israel has a right to exist,' he said. 'As a Jewish state?' the moderator pressed. 'As a state with equal rights,' Mamdani replied. But when Mamdani was asked to clarify during a Thursday morning interview on Fox 5's 'Good Day New York,' he said he opposes Israel's right to exist — as a Jewish state. 'Because I'm not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else,' he told anchor Rosanna Scotto. 'In the way we have in this country, equality should be enshrined in every country in the world.' Fellow Queens Assembly member Nily Rozic, who was born in Israel, said, 'He doesn't recognize the Jewish state and its right to exist — a method of dehumanizing the Jewish people and a way to sow unnecessary divisions in society.' She added: 'That's a dangerous point of view for any elected official, let alone one who aspires to be mayor.' Brooklyn Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, who is also Jewish, said that Mamdani's refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state was not all that surprising. 'Not at all shocking that the most prominent antisemite running this year can't bring himself to acknowledge the right of the Jewish state to exist. His hatred for Jews is boundless,' Yeger said. Democratic National Committee delegate from New York Robert Zimmerman, a pro-Israel Jew, said Mamdani's answer on 'Good Day' was chilling. 'Mamdani clearly disrespects the memory of the 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust and further empowers those who engage in antisemitic rhetoric and violence,' Zimmerman told The Post. Like the Democratic Socialists of America that back him, Mamdani is a staunch foe of Israel and even supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state. Jewish civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation League said the BDS movement smacks of antisemitism because it seeks to harm the world's only Jewish State. Mamdani is running second in recent primary polls to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo on Thursday was endorsed by the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, the largest Orthodox Jewish group in Queens — a sign that the more conservative ultra-orthodox Jewish communities will back his candidacy.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani's anti-Israel stance disqualifies him AND anyone who supports him
Zohran Mamdani couldn't even pretend he supports Israel's right to exist as actually Israel: Bad as everyone was on stage at the first Democratic mayoral debate, he disqualifies himself with that stance alone. And, incidentally, exposes anyone who endorses him as perfectly fine with promoting antisemitism. That includes not only Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who's tried to distance herself a tad from her most viscerally antisemitic Squad-mates but still endorsed Mamdani the day after the debate, but also state Sen. John Liu, who announced his support even as he insisted they disagreed on Israel. Sorry, John: When Jews are being gunned down in our nation's capital, and firebombed at a peaceful Boulder vigil, it's no time to set aside that difference. As for the debate, it was a mess of an event the Campaign Finance Board set up: Too many candidates onstage jockeying for time; too many moderators doing the same — producing an obsessive focus on 'differences' most voters don't care about. At least they got to the Gaza war near the end of the two-hour affair, with a discussion that led Mamdani to declare, 'I believe Israel has a right to exist' — but when the moderator prompted, 'As a Jewish state?' he replied merely, 'As a state with equal rights.' As others quickly pointed out, that's not Israel's right to exist at all. 'There are 22 Arab Muslim states. In Mamdani's world, there isn't room for one Jewish state. He doesn't want a Jewish State,' notes Joseph Potasnik of the New York Board of Rabbis. Mamdani's dodge comes as no surprise; he has proudly denounced the war against Hamas and his Democratic Socialists go even further, with one faction even cheering last month's Jew-targeting DC assassin. No, this isn't the only reason for New Yorkers to reject Mamdani's candidacy; his 'free stuff' agenda would devastate the city's housing stock and indeed its entire economy. But the Israel issue counts big: Mamdani wouldn't even put his name on an Assembly resolution denouncing the Holocaust. Early voting starts June 14; primary day is June 24: If you're a registered Democrat, make a point of supporting only your picks among the other candidates.
New York Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani ripped for refusing to recognize Israel as Jewish state: ‘Dangerous point of view'
Jewish leaders condemned Democratic socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani Thursday for his repeated refusals to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state — slamming it as a disqualifying and 'dangerous' point of view. 'It's more than problematic,' said Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis. 'Jews see this as a dividing line. 4 Political and community leaders speak at a press conference outside of Columbia University on Thursday morning in support of reinstating a mask ban in New York State as incidents of antisemitism rise. LP Media Advertisement 'There are 22 Arab Muslim states,' Potasnik noted. 'In Mamdani's world, there isn't room for one Jewish state. He doesn't want a Jewish State.' Mamdani, a pro-Palestinian state Assembly member from Queens who has supported the BDS movement to boycott Israel, has repeatedly been dogged by the issue as he campaigns for the Democratic mayoral nomination. During Wednesday night's NBC 4 NY-Politico primary debate, Mamdani hedged and again refused to answer the question. Advertisement 4 Mamdani has supported the BDS movement to boycott Israel. fox5ny 'I believe Israel has a right to exist,' he said. 'As a Jewish state?' the moderator pressed. 'As a state with equal rights,' Mamdani replied. Advertisement But when Mamdani was asked to clarify during a Thursday morning interview on Fox 5's 'Good Day New York,' he said he opposes Israel's right to exist — as a Jewish state. 'Because I'm not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else,' he told anchor Rosanna Scotto. 4 Rabbi Joseph Potasnik speaks next to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Rev. Al Sharpton and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at the Center for Jewish History in New York City, U.S., May 22, 2025. REUTERS 'In the way we have in this country, equality should be enshrined in every country in the world.' Advertisement Fellow Queens Assembly member Nily Rozic, who was born in Israel, said, 'He doesn't recognize the Jewish state and its right to exist — a method of dehumanizing the Jewish people and a way to sow unnecessary divisions in society.' She added: 'That's a dangerous point of view for any elected official, let alone one who aspires to be mayor.' Brooklyn Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, who is also Jewish, said that Mamdani's refusal to acknowledge Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state was not all that surprising. 'Not at all shocking that the most prominent antisemite running this year can't bring himself to acknowledge the right of the Jewish state to exist. His hatred for Jews is boundless,' Yeger said. Democratic National Committee delegate from New York Robert Zimmerman, a pro-Israel Jew, said Mamdani's answer on 'Good Day' was chilling. 'Mamdani clearly disrespects the memory of the 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust and further empowers those who engage in antisemitic rhetoric and violence,' Zimmerman told The Post. Like the Democratic Socialists of America that back him, Mamdani is a staunch foe of Israel and even supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against the Jewish state. Advertisement 4 Rabbi Joseph Potasnik speaks during a meeting of New York spiritual leaders Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at City Hall, denouncing the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. N.Y. POST: CHAD RACHMAN Jewish civil rights groups such as the Anti-Defamation League said the BDS movement smacks of antisemitism because it seeks to harm the world's only Jewish State. Mamdani is running second in recent primary polls to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo on Thursday was endorsed by the Far Rockaway Jewish Alliance, the largest Orthodox Jewish group in Queens — a sign that the more conservative ultra-orthodox Jewish communities will back his candidacy.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Bruno Fernandes copies Mohamed Salah to leave transfer master plan in tatters
Bruno Fernandes' decision to turn down a mega-money move to Al-Hilal could be a reflection of the waning power of the Saudi Pro League. Fernandes has decided to reject the offer of a £100million transfer this summer and a contract worth £700,000 a week in favour of staying with a club who have, frankly, hit rock bottom. Manchester United finished 15th in the Premier League and won't play any European football next season after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. And yet it appears they have managed to hold onto their star player and captain - despite suggestions that some club officials (not head coach Ruben Amorim, it should be said) haven't exactly been beating down his door trying to persuade him to stay. That should ring alarm bells in Saudi Arabia, where the master plan is built around luring the world's best players to the country. The Kingdom has now been snubbed by two of the Premier League's biggest stars, earmarked as being marquee arrivals, in very quick succession. Mohamed Salah has been targeted by the Saudi Pro League ever since it announced itself on the world stage by splashing the cash to land Cristiano Ronaldo in January 2023. As undeniably one of the world's best players, and the highest profile Arab Muslim athlete in the world, Salah is considered the golden goose in Saudi. Yet he too has decided – for now, at least – that he would rather remain in the Premier League with Liverpool than accept a deal worth an estimated £500m. Salah is 32 years old, the kind of age when a lucrative deal in the Middle East might tempt the most, yet he signed a new two-year contract with the Reds in April. Asked about the decision to snub Saudi Arabia, Salah said at Liverpool's title-winning parade: "I thought it was a good opportunity. My contract was up at Liverpool, and I would have gone to Saudi, but we finalised the deal with Liverpool. "And I still have a good relationship with them and I always stay in contact with them. Yes, we were talking to each other. I don't know what is going to happen, but I am happy here in Liverpool and I am staying here for the next two years. Then I will see what I will do next." The inference appears to be that Salah will still consider a move to Saudi Arabia, but not until he has made the most of his best years in a more competitive environment. Fernandes is two years younger than Salah and has made a similar call. Although he had reservations about uprooting his family, the biggest reason for Fernandes' decision to stay put was that he didn't want to leave the world's biggest leave for one that, for all its financial backing, remains second rate in the eyes of the vast majority. For all that the Saudi Pro League has attracted plenty of young talented players from major European leagues, its star player remains 40-year-old Ronaldo. His deal with Al-Nassr expires at the end of June and he has hinted that he could leave by writing on social media: 'This chapter is over. The story? Still being written. Grateful to all.' The Saudi business model is reliant on capturing and retaining stars like Ronaldo, who has undoubtedly been a major factor in others arriving. If the Portugal star packs his bags this summer there won't be an obvious name to step into the void now Salah and Fernandes have said 'thanks, but no thanks.' 'We have been able to attract and embed some of the best players in the world. We have got now, as part of the league, very good players,' Saudi Pro League director of football Michael Emenalo told Sky Sports in September 2023. 'We have top players, then a healthy sprinkle of world-class players. That bodes well for the future of the league.' But is that still true? In the same interview, Emenalo dismissed the suggestion that Saudi Arabia could follow in the footsteps of the Chinese Super League as a short-lived gold rush, yet that appears to be an increasingly distinct possibility. Emenalo also admitted that the kingdom's plan is reliant on star quality: 'It shouldn't be a surprise that when you put your plan in place you ask: how do you offer the best quality entertainment to our audience? That included bringing in the best quality players in the world." But other than Ronaldo, which world-leading lights have actually gone to Saudi? How many in their peak are upping sticks? Not many. Sure there's plenty of talent who have made the move. But the majority have been players who either took deals far beyond what they could expect to earn in the Premier League relevant to their talent level - Ivan Toney, Jhon Duran, Aleksandar Mitrovic - or who have made the move for that final pay day. 'Fortunately, the players have looked at the plan, strategy and ambition and they expressed values of wanting to make this league one of the best in the world," said Emenalo. "They decided to join and we are grateful for that.' But now players are looking not just at the 'plan', but what has happened in recent years, able to reference the quality of football on display and the struggling attendances and weigh up whether the money alone is enough. If Saudi Arabia's billions can no longer buy those players then the whole plan attached to the 2034 World Cup could be at risk. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Belfast Telegraph
25-05-2025
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Nobel Prize author did not pick literature A-level as it did not feel ‘useful'
©Press Association Nobel Prize-winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah has said he did not pick literature as an A-level as it did not feel 'useful'. The Tanzanian author, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 2021, was born in 1948 on the island of Zanzibar, now part of Tanzania, and moved to Britain as a refugee in 1968, fleeing a repressive regime that persecuted the Arab Muslim community to which he belonged.
