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Newsweek
10 minutes ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Zohran Mamdani Scores 17-Point Lead with Jewish Voters in NYC Mayoral Race
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani commands a 17-point lead among Jewish voters in the upcoming New York City mayoral race, according to newly released polling. The survey from Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions found that Mamdani's support among Jewish voters surpassed all other candidates, reflecting a complex realignment in the wake of his decisive victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Newsweek reached out to Mamdani's campaign team via email for comment. New York Democratic mayoral nominee, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander speak with members of the press as they greet voters on Broadway on June 24, 2025 in New York City. New York Democratic mayoral nominee, Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander speak with members of the press as they greet voters on Broadway on June 24, 2025 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Why It Matters New York City hosts the largest Jewish population outside Israel and political analysts have long viewed this demographic as critical in mayoral contests. Mamdani's support among Jewish voters comes despite repeated accusations from opponents and some community leaders that his criticism of Israel represents antisemitism. His performance suggests growing acceptance among parts of the Jewish electorate—particularly younger and less religious voters—of candidates who hold critical views of Israeli policy, potentially signaling a shift in the priorities of one of the city's most influential voting blocs. What To Know The Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions poll surveyed 1,453 New York City residents between July 16 and July 24. Among Jewish respondents likely to vote in the November mayoral election, 43 percent said they supported Mamdani, compared to 26 percent for Cuomo, his closest competitor who is now running as an independent following his Democratic primary defeat. Despite his outspoken criticism of Israel and refusal to disavow phrases associated with Palestinian activism, Mamdani outperformed more moderate candidates, including Mayor Eric Adams—who opted to run for re-election as an independent before the Democratic primary—and Republican Curtis Sliwa, among both Jewish and non-Jewish voters. The poll's findings are especially notable against the backdrop of heightened tensions in New York's Jewish community, which has faced increased anti-Jewish hate crimes and debates over safety, city policy, and Israel. Despite such concerns, voters indicated that issues such as housing affordability, public safety, and government integrity were more influential in their vote choice than foreign policy or religious identity. Mamdani has consistently denied allegations of antisemitism, stating his criticism is directed solely at Israeli government actions, not Jewish people. He has also pledged to increase city funding for anti-hate crime programming and to foster dialogue within religious communities. The poll also suggests Mamdani has built a broad progressive coalition, with strong support from the young, LGBTQ+, and college-educated voters across racial and ethnic groups. The poll's methodology noted a margin of error of 2.9 percent for registered voters, with slightly higher error rates among likely Jewish voters due to sample size. The results reflect a possible generational and ideological realignment, as younger and more progressive Jewish voters appear less likely to equate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Mamdani's strong showing follows his Democratic primary win, where he captured 56 percent of the overall citywide vote, with Cuomo trailing at 44 percent. What People Are Saying Rabbi Shimon Hecht, of Congregation B'nai Jacob in Brooklyn, said last month following the Democratic primary: "I think like every upsetting election, it's a wake-up call for people … I strongly believe that [Mamdani] will not be elected as our next mayor, but it's going to take a lot of uniting among the Jewish people and others who are concerned about these issues. We have to unify." Aiyana Leong Knauer, a 35-year-old Brooklyn bartender who is Jewish and backed Mamdani, said: "[The primary is] New Yorkers, many of them Jewish, saying we care more about having an affordable city than sowing division … Many of us take really deep offense to our history being weaponized against us … Jewish people all over the world have well-founded fears for their safety, but Jews in New York are safe overall." Zohran Mamdani said in a statement following his primary win: "I am humbled by the support of more than 545,000 New Yorkers in last week's primary. This is just the beginning of our expanding coalition to make New York City affordable. And we will do it together." What Happens Next The New York City mayoral general election is scheduled for November 4, 2025. Both Cuomo and Adams could impact the final outcome if they remain in the race, while Sliwa is hoping for a long-shot upset in a fractured field. This article contains reporting by The Associated Press
Canada News.Net
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
NATO nation rebukes West over bias on Ukraine and Gaza conflicts
Countries criticizing Russia are often very quiet on Israels military campaign in Gaza, Norwegian FM Espen Barth Eide has said Western nations that condemn Russia's military operation against Ukraine often hold back on criticizing Israel's Gaza offensive, which has produced a major humanitarian crisis, Norway's foreign minister has told the Financial Times. In an interview on Tuesday, Espen Barth Eide stated that Western countries are undermining their credibility by treating the two conflicts in a completely different manner and engaging in cherry-picking. "By very correctly criticizing Russia... but until recently being very quiet on Gaza - that tells other parts of the world that we are not really seeing these as absolute norms but more like a menu that we can pick arguments from," he said. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "worse than hell on earth" and stressed that many nations suspect the West of double standards. "We would be well advised to try to understand, not agree, what they think, and what many out there think is an inconsistent application of international law," he added. Following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, the Jewish state unleashed a military campaign in Gaza. The hostilities have led to tens of thousands of civilian deaths, a humanitarian crisis, and unprecedented destruction. While Western nations have sounded the alarm about the situation in Gaza, it wasn't until May 2025 that the UK, French, and Canadian governments issued a statement condemning Israel's military operations. In addition, France, Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia, recently moved to officially recognize the State of Palestine, with the UK also warning of impending recognition unless Israel ceases hostilities. The US, a key Israel ally, has been a notable holdout on condemning West Jerusalem, denouncing the wave of recognitions as a boon for Hamas and a setback for peace. In June, the US also vetoed a UN Security Council resolution urging a "permanent ceasefire in Gaza," arguing that the document does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave the enclave. Western nations have largely avoided imposing sanctions on Israel, in contrast to the unprecedented sanctions they hit Russia with in 2022.
Canada News.Net
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- Canada News.Net
NATO member criticizes West over Ukraine/Gaza geopolitical menu
Countries criticizing Russia are often very quiet about Israels military campaign in the Palestinian enclave, Norwegian FM Espen Barth Eide has said Western nations that condemn Russia's military operation against Ukraine often hold back on criticizing Israel's Gaza offensive, which has produced a major humanitarian crisis, Norway's foreign minister has told the Financial Times. In an interview on Tuesday, Espen Barth Eide stated that Western countries are undermining their credibility by treating the two conflicts in a completely different manner and engaging in cherry-picking. "By very correctly criticizing Russia... but until recently being very quiet on Gaza - that tells other parts of the world that we are not really seeing these as absolute norms but more like a menu that we can pick arguments from," he said. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "worse than hell on earth" and stressed that many nations suspect the West of double standards. "We would be well advised to try to understand, not agree, what they think, and what many out there think is an inconsistent application of international law," he added. Following a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel in October 2023, the Jewish state unleashed a military campaign in Gaza. The hostilities have led to tens of thousands of civilian deaths, a humanitarian crisis, and unprecedented destruction. While Western nations have sounded the alarm about the situation in Gaza, it wasn't until May 2025 that the UK, French, and Canadian governments issued a statement condemning Israel's military operations. In addition, France, Spain, Ireland, Norway, and Slovenia, recently moved to officially recognize the State of Palestine, with the UK also warning of impending recognition unless Israel ceases hostilities. The US, a key Israel ally, has been a notable holdout on condemning West Jerusalem, denouncing the wave of recognitions as a boon for Hamas and a setback for peace. In June, the US also vetoed a UN Security Council resolution urging a "permanent ceasefire in Gaza," arguing that the document does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave the enclave. Western nations have largely avoided imposing sanctions on Israel, in contrast to the unprecedented sanctions they hit Russia with in 2022.
Los Angeles Times
39 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
French ministers condemn ‘excessive use of force' after Jewish youths were removed from a flight
PARIS — A summer camp counselor has accused Spanish law enforcement officers of using brute force against her during the removal of a group of French Jewish teenagers from a plane bound for Paris from Spain, French government ministers and her lawyer said Wednesday. Ministers Aurore Bergé and Benjamin Haddad met with the counselor on Tuesday after French authorities last week contacted the CEO of the Spanish low-cost airline Vueling and the Spanish ambassador to France to determine whether the youngsters had been discriminated against on the basis of their religion. Forty-four minors and eight adult French passengers were kicked off flight V8166 from Valencia to Paris on July 23, for what Spanish police and the airline described as unruly behavior. But the ministers said the counselor, who asked to remain anonymous and is described as 'shocked,' disputed that account. They say she described the crew as hostile from the outset, saying a child briefly sang but stopped when asked, and claimed no behavior warranted the group's removal or the Civil Guard's response. 'No action justified the disembarkation or the excessive and brutal use of force by the Civil Guard against the young woman, who has just been notified of 15 days of total incapacity to work,' the ministers said in a statement, adding that her testimony had been corroborated by other passengers on board. The counselor's lawyer, Muriel Ouaknine Melki, told the Associated Press that she was left with bruises on her legs, arms and body after she was brutally handcuffed and held in an arm lock. Ouaknine Melki said her team is collecting evidence before lodging a complaint. The Club Kineret association, which organized the summer camp, did not immediately answer requests from The Associated Press for direct testimonies from people who were removed from the plane. A Vueling spokesperson said the passengers were removed after the minors repeatedly tampered with the plane's emergency equipment and interrupted the crew's safety demonstration. A Civil Guard spokesperson said the plane captain ordered the group's removal at Valencia's Manises Airport after they repeatedly ignored crew instructions. Bergé and Haddad also lashed out at a statement from the Spanish Minister of Transport 'equating French children of Jewish faith with Israeli citizens, as if that somehow justified the treatment they received.' Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente has deleted a tweet from July 26 in which he called the minors 'Israeli brats.' 'At a time when antisemitic acts have been on the rise across Europe since the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, in Israel, the ministers call on Vueling and the Spanish authorities to fully investigate and clarify the events,' Bergé and Haddad said. 'We will never accept the normalization of antisemitism. We will always stand with our fellow citizens who suffer from antisemitic hatred, and we will never compromise.' Vueling has denied that the incident was related to the passengers' religion. Some Israeli news outlets reported that the students were Jewish and that their removal was religiously motivated, a claim that was repeated by an Israeli minister online. The Civil Guard spokesperson said the agents involved were not aware of the group's religious affiliation. Petrequin writes for the Associated Press.
Time Magazine
40 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
How Antisemitism Is Impacting Synagogues Like Mine
Like many American Jews, each morning I brace myself before checking the news on my phone. Another antisemitic attack. Another vandalized synagogue. It's becoming routine—but it shouldn't be. History painfully demonstrates that whenever conflict flares in the Middle East, Jewish communities worldwide become targets. But the intensity of open harassment, rising hate crimes, and normalization of antisemitic rhetoric since the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas is unlike anything I've seen before. The escalation from aggressive anti-Israel protest to outright violence is a nationwide phenomenon. Recent high-profile cases include the murder of two individuals outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., and the killing of an 82-year-old woman in Colorado who was attacked with a firebomb. Less widely reported was the man in California who was beaten unconscious by a group shouting 'F--- the Jews, Free Palestine.' Or, the 72-year-old man who was punched in the face by a group of young men yelling 'Free Palestine.' Or the man who repeatedly targeted and assaulted Jewish victims at protests relating to the war in Gaza. This list could go on and on. Each incident represents a dangerous point along a continuum—from rhetoric, to intimidation, to violence—and in every case, perpetrators justified their actions by claiming solidarity with Palestinians. However, these acts of anti-semitism do nothing to help Palestinians. Instead, they further distance us from the idea of two nations for two peoples, as well as the possibility of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Those who insist that Israel should not exist, and that Jews around the world should be punished for the actions of the Israeli government, move far beyond the realm of compromise, conciliation, and political discourse and, in effect, become pro-violence. This wave of antisemitism is creating palpable anxiety within Jewish communities. Increasingly, Jewish families find themselves making difficult choices: some have purchased firearms for protection; others are enrolling in self-defense classes, determined not to become victims. No community should feel compelled to arm itself just to survive. Yet across the country, securing Jewish institutions is no longer precautionary—it is essential. Synagogues and community centers have been forced to harden infrastructure, overhaul safety protocols, and reshape budgets just to maintain basic security. Federal nonprofit security grants help, but proposed funding levels remain dangerously inadequate. Still, we are not retreating. Synagogues are full. Jewish families are standing taller, not shrinking away. We teach our children to be proud, to be resilient, and to live with hope even amid rising fear. We know something fundamental has shifted—but we will face this moment with strength and open eyes. That said, we cannot confront this threat alone. After each attack, we hear heartfelt declarations of solidarity—statements of support, thoughts, and prayers. These gestures are meaningful, but passive concern will not protect us. What we need now is courage. If you must protest Israel's policies, you are of course free to do so. But stay away from our synagogues, our schools, and our community centers. That's not activism—that's intimidation. If you are not Jewish but want to be an ally, here's what that looks like: Check in. Speak up. Your Jewish neighbors feel increasingly vulnerable. If someone around you uses an antisemitic slur, confront it the same way you would any other form of bigotry. Your voice, especially as a non-Jewish ally, shows us we are not alone. Support increased security funding. Jewish organizations across the country have called on Congress to significantly expand funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which protects vulnerable religious communities of all faiths. Congress must act with urgency to meet this moment and ensure the safety of targeted communities nationwide. We also need the faith leaders, public officials, and allies who stood with us after Oct. 7 to stay with us now. We know there's no shortage of hatred to confront in the world. But we are still here, and we are still hurting. To be sure, we must also condemn hate crimes against Palestinian Americans. Indeed, Jews have prayed for peace for generations—long before the modern State of Israel existed. We continue to pray for peace today, for Israelis and Palestinians alike. But real peace requires more than the absence of rockets or bombs. It requires safety, dignity, and the active resistance of those who refuse to normalize hate. Antisemitism cannot become America's new normal. If we accept hatred today, we shouldn't be surprised when violence returns tomorrow. Rabbi Brian Strauss is the senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston, the largest Conservative synagogue in the United States.
