Latest news with #October7th
Axios
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Israel is losing almost all its allies as it forges on in Gaza
Many of Israel's closest international allies have broken publicly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government for its relentless pummeling of Gaza and freezing of desperately needed humanitarian aid. Why it matters: Netanyahu had unprecedented international legitimacy to fight back against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attacks. But a gradual decline in support as the war dragged on has now turned into a diplomatic tsunami. Driving the news: Netanyahu lost many of his remaining friends in the West, outside of the U.S., over the last two months after terminating a ceasefire in March and blocking all deliveries of food, water and medicine to Gaza. The pressure escalated sharply earlier this month when he launched an operation to reoccupy and flatten Gaza rather than accept a deal to free the hostages and end the war. President Trump and his top aides have signaled to Netanyahu that he should wind down the war and allow in aid, though Trump has mostly kept his concerns private. Several other leaders have gone public. What they're saying: "We will not stand by while the Netanyahu Government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete actions in response," President Emmanuel Macron of France, Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada and Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the U.K. said in a joint statement on May 19. Netanyahu responded with fury, accusing the three in a video statement of doing Hamas' bidding. "They want Israel to stand down and accept that Hamas's army of mass murderers will survive, rebuild and repeat the October 7th massacre again and again and again because that's what Hamas has vowed to do." "I say to President Macron, Prime Minister Carney and Prime Minister Starmer: When mass murderers, rapists, baby killers and kidnappers thank you, you're on the wrong side of justice. You're on the wrong side of humanity and you're on the wrong side of history." State of play: Israel's isolation is moving beyond mere rhetoric. The U.K. on Thursday announced it was suspending trade negotiations with Israel and imposed new sanctions Thursday against Israeli settlers involved in violent attacks against Palestinians. France is expected to co-host a conference with Saudi Arabia next month to push for a two-state solution, and is expected to formally recognize a Palestinian state. Spain already recognized a Palestinian state last year, along with Norway and Ireland, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez last week labeled Israel a "genocidal state" and called for it to be banned from the Eurovision song contest. 17 of 27 EU foreign ministers backed a motion on Tuesday brought by the Netherlands, another key Israeli ally, to reconsider the bloc's trade and cooperation pact with Israel. The other side: Netanyahu and his government have responded to the criticism by accusing European leaders of antisemitism and claiming they're caving to pressure from the Muslim minorities in their countries. But Israel also agreed to allow some aid into Gaza for the first time since March. Behind the scenes: In a series of Security Council meetings back in March, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar warned Netanyahu that suspending humanitarian aid would not weaken Hamas, but would drive away Israel's allies. Eventually, Israel would have to cave and resume the aid under pressure, Sa'ar argued, according to a senior Israeli official. "This is exactly what happened. It was a huge mistake and was done mostly for domestic political considerations," the official said. What to watch: While Trump seems to have cooled on his own plan to expel all 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to build a new "riviera," Netanyahu said last week for the first time that the war won't end until that plan is implemented. The Netanyahu government sees it as a green light for pursuing "voluntary migration" — a code name for mass displacement of the entire population first into a "humanitarian zone" in Gaza and the, ideally, abroad. If Israel follows through on that plan, which involves leveling virtually all of Gaza, it will almost certainly further isolate itself internationally.
The Intercept
25-05-2025
- Politics
- The Intercept
How to Write About Palestine
A man carries a dead child at Nasser Hospital, Khan Yunis, Gaza on May 24, 2025. Photo:Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu/Getty Images Begin on October 7th, 2023. Nothing important happened before this date. History began on October 7th. Never say the word occupation and avoid using terms like, 'apartheid,' 'segregation' and 'illegal settlements.' Avoid writing about the wall. If you do, preface its existence by talking about terrorism and security. Terrorism and security are very important words. Use them a lot in reference to Palestinians. Remind your audience that Palestine is a 'complicated' situation. Avoid the word genocide — for legal and technical reasons of course. If you must use the word, put it in quotes. Do not describe the escalation of Israeli hostility as an assault on the people of Gaza. Instead, use words like 'war,' and 'conflict,' because that makes it easier to avoid the g-word. When reporting on the dead, always use the passive voice and don't mention how they were killed, or by whom. As often as possible remind your readers of October 7th . When writing about Palestinians, do not forget to center Israeli feelings. Although the Israeli miliary is dropping bombs and killing Palestinians, the real story is about the persecution of Israelis in the wake of October 7th. Avoid making everything even more complicated pointing out that antisemitism is a European invention. Writing about Palestine mainly involves writing about Hamas. Writing about Hamas is almost as important as writing about October 7th. Hamas is a person, a thing, a monster, a ghost. Hamas is in every home. Hamas is in tunnels and hospitals. Hamas is in tents sleeping next to patients in wheelchairs. Hamas is in ambulances that are buried with paramedics. Hamas infiltrated World Food Kitchen and all the soup kitchens and schools, even the children's souls have been infiltrated by Hamas. Palestinian children try to get a ration of hot food from a charity kitchen set up at a camp for displaced people in Gaza City, on May 21, 2025. Photo: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/Getty Images The October 7th Hamas attack can be described in any of the following ways: horrific brutal gruesome murderous shocking atrocious harrowing graphic terrifying On the other hand, when writing about attacks on Palestinians no adjectives should be used. It's better to simply write something like, 'More than 90 killed in Gaza strikes.' You do not want readers to think you're taking a side. When writing about Palestine, do not let facts get in the way of telling a good story. To this end, ignore Palestinian sources. They may be biased. On the other hand, the Israeli military is a highly credible source of information. If the Israeli army says nothing happened, then nothing happened. When the army claims their troops didn't rape Palestinian women or use civilians as human shields, or shoot children in the head with sniper guns, continue to publish their denials without comment. Linking countries that fund weapons to the armies that use them fosters transparency. So, when you write about attacks on Tel Aviv, it is important to mention that the missiles were fired by Iran-backed Hezbollah. Do the same when you write about the Houthis. Do not follow the same protocols when it comes to Israel. The American-backed Israeli army makes its own decisions about when to drop American and British bombs. When talking about Muslim communities, throw around phrases like 'terrorist hotbed,' and 'Hamas sympathizers.' This works even when those communities are in the UK or America. Repeatedly demonize people who peacefully protest for Palestine. Center the voices of people living in Western countries who feel unsafe when they hear the phrase 'from the river to the sea.' Don't ask your readers to imagine how unsafe children actually living, wounded and dying in Gaza and the West Bank feel. Do not ask them to think about whether mothers feel safe as they enter labor. Do not write one single paragraph asking whether fathers burying their children have a right to feel unsafe in Gaza. When writing about Palestine, try not to zoom into individual stories or write about the intimate details of people's lives. Keep your focus on Hamas militants. In fact, when writing about Palestine try not to interview Palestinians at all. They might be Hamas or Hamas sympathizers. If you must interview a Palestinian, always begin by asking them to condemn October 7th. After this, be sure to ask them to confirm that Israel has a right to exist. Ask the same leading questions of anyone who looks like an Arab, or is Muslim, or who seems to sympathize with Palestinians. Sometimes they will throw the question back at you and ask if you think Palestine has a right to exist. Ignore this line of questioning as it only leads to trouble. When all else fails, remember: Begin on October 7th, 2023. Nothing important happened before this date. History began on October 7th. This piece borrows its satirical form from How to Write About Africa by the late Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina . Many of the details and critiques of the media examples are from the excellent report put out by the Australian Islamophobia Register in December 2023. Written by Dr Susan Carland, A War of Words: Preliminary Media Analysis of the Gaza War is a great resource. There are many articles online that can help you read more critically. Search 'media bias Palestine' and you'll find dozens of reports.
Politico
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Mamdani passes on condemning the Holocaust
Presented by The Public Policy Institute of New York With help from Cris Seda Chabrier New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani declined to sign onto an Assembly resolution this week recognizing Israel on the 77th anniversary of its founding — four months after the lawmaker passed on signing a separate resolution condemning the Holocaust. Those choices are almost certain to make waves in this year's mayoral race, where Mamdani is running second to Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Mamdani's critics laced into him for his decision, saying they're evidence of a trend. 'He condemned Israel the day after October 7th, regularly gives interviews on unapologetic antisemitic platforms and just proudly accepted an endorsement from a disgraced former fire-alarm pulling Congressman who denied October 7th rapes before walking that back,' said Assemblymember Sam Berger, referencing Mamdani's recent endorsement from Jamaal Bowman. 'His plan to 'combat' antisemitism is tossing more money at the Jews,' Berger continued. 'At what point do we acknowledge that if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck and quacks like a duck — it's a duck?' The annual resolutions honoring Israel and condemning the Holocaust have historically been among the most uncontentious events in Albany. Mamdani was one of only five members in the 150-person Assembly who didn't sign onto at least one of the two resolutions this year. His campaign spokesman Andrew Epstein noted Mamdani has regularly commented on the remembrance day and condemned the genocide of Jewish people on social media. 'He absolutely supports the Holocaust Memorial Day resolution,' he added. Epstein also explained that his boss 'had to narrow down the capacity' because he's running for mayor and working as a legislator, but conceded that he did not know why Mamdani declined to sign a similar Holocaust resolution in 2024, well before he started his mayoral run. Mamdani's name has been added to dozens of resolutions in recent years, on subjects such as Neurodiversity Pride Day, Police Memorial Day and Transit Equity Day. But Epstein said each of the eight he's signed onto in 2025 were ones he was automatically added to. According to Epstein, Mamdani opted against backing the Israel measure because it says the country 'continues to strive for peace with security and dignity for itself, its neighbors and throughout the world.' 'That is belied by the conduct of the right-wing government over the past 18 months,' he said. Assemblymember Nily Rozic, the sponsor of the resolutions and the first Israeli-born member of the Assembly, disagreed. 'Supporting Israel's right to exist is a fundamental American value — one that goes back more than 77 years and that an overwhelming majority of Jewish New Yorkers support,' she said. 'This is not something Democrats should be relitigating now when our resources and energies are greatly needed elsewhere.' Cuomo has framed antisemitism as 'the most important issue' in the campaign for City Hall. And Mayor Eric Adams, who opted out of the Democratic primary in favor of running as an independent in the general election, has also focused on antisemitism as he vies for a second term. Mamdani was not actually spotted in Albany's legislative chamber at all Wednesday, when the Israel resolution was formally approved by the full chamber. Instead, he spent at least part of the day in Co-op City, where his mayoral campaign picked up the endorsement of Bowman, who lost his congressional seat in large part due to his criticisms of Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks and the pro-Israel funding those remarks motivated. — Bill Mahoney HAPPY FRIDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In Washington with no public schedule. WHERE'S ERIC? Public schedule unavailable as of 10 p.m. Thursday. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'There was never a concern that the experienced counsel in this case would need to freeload off the arguments of the United States attorney's office.' — Federal Judge Lewis Liman, ruling that an internal memo detailing weaknesses in the Trump administration's legal effort to end congestion pricing cannot be used in court, the New York Times reports. ABOVE THE FOLD CUOMO'S MEDICAID PAST: Cuomo has joined the Democratic chorus condemning the Medicaid cuts moving through Congress as part of President Donald Trump's 'big, beautiful bill.' But his rivals in the Democratic primary for mayor want voters to remember that as governor Cuomo sought $2.5 billion in savings from the state Medicaid program to help close a $6 billion gap. Does Cuomo still believe Medicaid reform is needed in New York? That isn't entirely clear. His campaign responded only that the ex-governor's state fight is an apples-to-oranges comparison to the federal fight today. 'Provisions in the Medicaid bill just introduced in the House — such as limits on provider taxes, cuts to subsidy payments to safety net hospitals under so-called directed payment programs, and penalizing states for providing health coverage to non-citizens who are in the United States legally — are likely to significantly reduce federal funding to New York State, especially over time,' Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told Playbook in a statement. By contrast, Azzopardi said, 'As governor, Andrew Cuomo worked hard to responsibly restrain the growth in Medicaid spending through targeted program changes, but always made sure that Medicaid was available to the millions of people in New York State who rely on it.' Cuomo's opponents in the mayoral race — scrambling for any edge as he maintains his gulf of a lead over them — have hit him on health benefits for low-income New Yorkers since he launched his bid. 'I want to tell you about who we're running against: a guy who cut Medicaid and stole money from the MTA,' Mamdani said in a video. 'By the way, Cuomo cut $2.5 billion in Medicaid and thousands of psychiatric beds,' city Comptroller Brad Lander posted. But here's how it went down: Five years ago, at the onset of the Covid pandemic, Cuomo and the state Legislature agreed to a budget with his proposed structural changes to Medicaid, but they delayed some cuts to preserve the state's access to emergency federal funding. And Medicaid, state spending on which has exploded since 2020, remains a program that needs cost-saving reforms, said Bill Hammond of the Empire Center for Public Policy. 'He was more stringent than (Gov. Kathy) Hochul was,' Hammond told Playbook of Cuomo trying to control growth. 'But he wasn't some kind of ogre who was ripping health care away from people. Enrollment grew during his term, benefits expanded during his term.' Cuomo has mentioned Trump and congressional Republicans' targeting of Medicaid at some of his limited appearances on the campaign trail. He sharpened his tone as the contours of the rollbacks — and their impact on funding to states — became clearer with this week's grueling bill markup sessions in the House. 'We will not let Republicans trade our health for a budget win,' the former governor posted on social media. 'Their plan to slash and burn Medicaid is a direct attack on cities like New York and on our health and well being.' He vowed to 'fight it every step of the way.' Nationally, Republicans argue they're rooting out fraud and waste, but some are also pushing back, wary of the impact on their working-class constituents as well as electoral fallout. Millions are expected to lose coverage. Democrats say the burden of proving employment or exemptions is red tape on top of recipients' health and financial struggles. They also accusing Republicans of hurting the vulnerable to help the wealthy. — Emily Ngo CITY HALL: THE LATEST STEAK DIANE: The mayor's erstwhile top aide, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, had two luncheons scheduled with commercial real estate broker Diana Boutross last year before both their phones were seized by law enforcement agents. On Jan. 7, Lewis-Martin was slated for a two-and-a-half hour meal with the Cushman & Wakefield honcho, according to a copy of Lewis-Martin's schedules obtained via a Freedom of Information Law request. The tête-à-tête was planned for a Japanese hibachi steakhouse in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Lewis-Martin had another lunch planned with Boutross on Feb. 13, her schedules showed. POLITICO previously reported Lewis-Martin had two meals scheduled with Boutross in 2022 and a whole Saturday held for the commercial broker the following year. Boutross, who has a lucrative job representing the city in office lease transactions, went on a group trip to Japan in September with Lewis-Martin, other city officials and a lobbyist. Upon landing, agents from the Manhattan district attorney's office seized both Boutross' and Lewis-Martin's phones. Agents also snagged the phone of fellow vacationer Jesse Hamilton, a longtime friend and protégé of the mayor who was put in charge of the city's real estate portfolio, which includes the transactions brokered by Boutross. A lawsuit filed in January accused Hamilton of demanding Cushman & Wakefield install Boutross as the lead municipal broker despite her lack of previous experience. Hamilton has longstanding ties with Lewis-Martin. The two were scheduled for an October 2023 meeting in Lewis-Martin's office, and on Jan. 31, 2024, Lewis-Martin's calendar showed the entry: 'Shhhh Surprise for Jesse,' which was to be hosted in her office. Boutross' role representing the city, her relationship with Lewis-Martin and Hamilton's tenure overseeing the municipal real estate portfolio have come under intense scrutiny from law enforcement and officials in the City Council. And while the Brooklyn-based broker has maintained her perch throughout, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services released a request for proposals for that job Thursday. Lewis-Martin abruptly resigned as the mayor's closest and longest-serving aide in December, days before Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted her on bribery, conspiracy and money laundering charges. — Joe Anuta and Maya Kaufman AOC ENDORSES: … but not yet in the mayoral race. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is backing City Council Members Shahana Hanif and Alexa Avilés for reelection this year as the left-leaning incumbents face well-funded opponents. Hanif is facing a challenge from political scientist Maya Kornberg in a district including Park Slope and Kensington. Madison Square Garden's super PAC, The Coalition to Restore New York, reported spending nearly $40,000 to boost her this week. Avilés is running against Ling Ye, a former aide to Rep. Dan Goldman, in a district including Sunset Park and Red Hook. The Real Estate Board of New York's super PAC, Jobs for New York, has reported spending $110,000 on her. Ocasio-Cortez is planning to announce a whole slate of council endorsements in the coming days, but gave Hanif and Avilés the go-ahead to announce early so they could include her sought-after endorsement on literature, a spokesperson for the Congress member told Playbook. Endorsements in citywide races like mayor would come after that, the spokesperson said — letting candidates like Mamdani and Lander sweat it out for a bit longer. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Under pressure from City Hall, the teachers union rescinded a rule requiring mayoral candidates seeking its endorsement to teach for a day. (Daily News) — Newly approved for public matching funds, mayoral candidate Whitney Tilson is hoping to catch attention with a $500,000 ad push highlighting his new education platform. (City & State) — The NYPD has increased criminal summonses against e-bike riders by 4,000 percent in the first two weeks of a controversial crackdown. (Streetsblog) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: The Trump administration's effort to get high-powered law firms to provide millions of dollars in pro bono legal work is getting push back from Democratic state lawmakers. Assemblymember Micah Lasher and state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal will unveil legislation today that would not count legal work done as a result of an agreement with the Trump administration toward required pro bono hours. The measure is meant to undermine the deals big law firms have struck with the Trump administration in order to avoid being punished by executive orders — which have included suspending some private-sector attorneys of security clearances as a way of limiting their ability to perform federal work. New attorneys seeking admission to the New York bar must report completing 50 hours of pro bono work. When attorneys file their biennial bar membership renewal, they must also report pro bono hours. If approved, the provision would prevent hours worked on behalf of Trump-related causes from being counted. 'Our legislation is about shielding lawyers from the dirty deals made by big law firms with the Trump administration and lawyers engaging in pro bono representation should be doing so at the behest of the public interest to address unmet legal needs of New Yorkers, not because their employer made a side agreement to keep favor with Donald Trump,' Hoylman-Sigal told Playbook. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The legislation is expected to be considered — and approved — by the state Senate Judiciary Committee next week. Trump's first administration inspired a raft of resistance-style legislation to counter Trump, including a bill that would have enabled a House oversight panel to access his state tax returns. There has not been the same flood of anti-Trump measures from the Democratic-controlled state Legislature, partly due to some moderate state lawmakers preferring to focus on pocketbook issues. Polls have shown Trump is unpopular in his home state and, as the New York City mayoral campaign is underway, a majority of Democratic voters want a mayor who will stand up to the Republican president. This bill marks the first significant proposal aimed at countering Trump 2.0's impact in New York. 'Donald Trump's coercion of some of the nation's most storied law firms is a stark example of the slide toward authoritarianism that is happening before our eyes,' Lasher said. 'This legislation aims to send a clear message that bending the knee is never the right answer when dealing with fascists, and that we need New York's lawyers to be champions, always, for the rule of law.' — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — The controversial aid-in-dying legislation does not specify which life-ending drugs would be prescribed for a terminally ill patient. (Times Union) — A chemistry industry-funded effort supporting state lawmakers skirted campaign finance rules. (NYS Focus) — Labor unions are backing two measures to change New York's sentencing laws. (City & State) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION POLICE WEEK PRESSURE: Some House Democrats marked National Police Week in Washington by pushing Republicans to honor the law enforcement officers who protected the U.S Capitol from the Jan. 6 mob of Trump supporters. Rep. Dan Goldman joined officers Aquilino Gonell and Daniel Hodges, who were at the Capitol on Jan. 6, for a news conference Thursday blasting what he called GOP hypocrisy. 'Republicans can't claim to 'back the blue' while they stand idly by and let Donald Trump pardon violent rioters who beat police officers,' the Manhattan and Brooklyn Democrat said. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged that a plaque be finally hung to commend the Capitol and Metropolitan police officers who worked to quell the insurrection. It was authorized in 2022 as part of appropriations legislation, but has yet to be installed at the Capitol. The Brooklyn Democrat said Wednesday on the House floor that '791 days have passed, and this Republican Congress has refused to comply with the law. It's time to honor those heroic officers. It's unconscionable, it's unpatriotic, it's unfathomable, it's unacceptable and it's un-American.' Rep. Joe Morelle, who introduced a resolution directing the Architect of the Capitol to install the plaque, posted a photo of the plaque in storage on social media. — Emily Ngo More from the delegation: — House Republican leaders are having to salvage their party-line megabill a lot sooner than they thought. (POLITICO) — GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Lawler are feuding over the cap on SALT deductions in the GOP's sweeping tax bill. (POLITICO) — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer slammed Trump's support for deals to sell advanced U.S. chip technology to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. (The Hill) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — New York's AI regulations could be blocked by a Republican proposal on the federal level. (Gothamist) — The doctor disciplinary system has issued fewer penalties and seen slower investigations. (Newsday) — A key state lawmaker says a bill aimed at monopolistic practices won't pass this year. (Bloomberg Government) SOCIAL DATA MAKING MOVES: Gayle Horwitz has been named the next CEO of JASA, a nonprofit serving older New Yorkers. She most recently served as a senior vice chancellor at CUNY … Nate Jackson has joined Brad Lander's mayoral campaign as deputy communications director. He was previously an account director at BerlinRosen where he led Los Deliveristas Unidos' minimum wage campaign opposing DoorDash. HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Human Service Council's Michelle Jackson … Former Assemblymembers Richard Gottfried and Lou Tobacco … DiNapoli comms director Jennifer Freeman … KC & Co Communications' Krysten Copeland … Ostroff Associates' Andrew Kennedy … New York Law School's Brian Kaszuba. Missed Thursday's New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York City mayoral contender didn't back measures condemning Holocaust, supporting Israel
ALBANY, New York — New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani declined to sign onto a state Assembly resolution this week recognizing Israel on the 77th anniversary of its founding — four months after the lawmaker passed on signing a separate resolution condemning the Holocaust. Those choices are almost certain to make waves in this year's mayoral race, where Mamdani is running second to Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. Mamdani's critics laced into him for his decision against signing the ceremonial gestures in the Assembly, saying they're evidence of a trend. 'He condemned Israel the day after October 7th, regularly gives interviews on unapologetic antisemitic platforms, and just proudly accepted an endorsement from a disgraced former fire-alarm pulling Congressman who denied October 7th rapes before walking that back,' said Assemblymember Sam Berger, referencing Mamdani's recent endorsement from Jamaal Bowman. 'His plan to 'combat' antisemitism is tossing more money at the Jews. At what point do we acknowledge that if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and quacks like a duck — it's a duck?' The annual resolutions honoring Israel and condemning the Holocaust have historically been among the most uncontentious events in Albany. Mamdani was one of only five members in the 150-person Assembly who did not sign onto at least one of the two resolutions this year. 'He absolutely supports the Holocaust Memorial Day resolution,' said campaign spokesperson Andrew Epstein, who noted that Mamdani has regularly commented on the remembrance day and condemned the genocide of Jewish people on social media. 'He had to narrow down the capacity' as he's running for mayor and working as a legislator, Epstein explained. 'He's a very careful legislator,' he added, 'so he has not put his name on any resolutions' this session. Epstein did not know why Mamdani declined to sign onto a similar resolution on the Holocaust in 2024, well before he started to run for mayor. Mamdani's name has been added to dozens of resolutions in recent years, on subjects such as Neurodiversity Pride Day, Juneteenth, Police Memorial Day, Lunar New Year, Black History Month, Women's History Month, Disabilities Awareness Day, Transit Equity Day and Korean American Day. But Epstein said each of the eight he's signed onto in 2025 were ones that he was automatically added to. According to Epstein, Mamdani does not support the Israel measure due to language that says the country 'continues to strive for peace with security and dignity for itself, its neighbors and throughout the world in order to fulfill the prophecy of becoming a light unto the nations.' 'I think that is belied by the conduct of the right-wing government over the past 18 months,' Epstein said. Other Democrats in the state Legislature disagreed. 'At a time when Democrats should be coming together to fight the very real threat from the Trump Administration and Republicans in Washington, some candidates seem more inclined to try and divide our party,' said Assemblymember Nily Rozic, the sponsor of both resolutions and the first Israeli-born member of the Assembly. 'Supporting Israel's right to exist is a fundamental American value — one that goes back more than 77 years and that an overwhelming majority of Jewish New Yorkers support. This is not something Democrats should be relitigating now when our resources and energies are greatly needed elsewhere.' New York City is home to nearly 1 million Jews, making it the second most populous Jewish community after Tel Aviv. Cuomo has framed antisemitism as 'the most important issue' in the campaign for City Hall. And Mayor Eric Adams, who opted out of the Democratic primary in favor of running as an independent in the general election, has also focused on antisemitism as he vies for a second term. On Thursday, Adams announced a plan to ban masks as part of an attempt to curb college protests over the Israel-Hamas war. Both Adams and Cuomo have been critical of Mamdani for his stances on Jewish issues. Mamdani was not actually spotted in Albany's legislative chamber at all Wednesday, when the Israel resolution was formally approved by the full chamber. Instead, he spent at least part of the day in Co-op City, where his mayoral campaign picked up the endorsement of Bowman, who lost his congressional seat last year in large part due to his harsh criticisms of Israel following the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas — and the pro-Israel funding those remarks motivated.
Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
The Daily T: The trial of the century that beat the Holocaust deniers
Next week marks 80 years since VE Day — the end of the Second World War and the defeat of Nazi Germany. But in the shadow of that anniversary, and in the wake of the October 7th attacks, Holocaust denial is on the rise once again — fuelled by misinformation and conspiracy theories spreading online. We look back at a landmark legal battle that confronted those lies head-on. It's been 25 years since historian David Irving sued Deborah Lipstadt for libel — and lost. The trial exposed him as a Holocaust denier and neo-Nazi sympathiser, in a courtroom showdown that made headlines around the world. Camilla and Kamal are joined in the studio by American academic Deborah Lipstadt and the lawyer who helped her win the case, Anthony Julius, to reflect on what was at stake then, and what's at stake now.
