New York City Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani defended his support for the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement during a Tuesday appearance on MSNBC.
Speaking on Morning Joe, Mamdani was asked directly about his stance on BDS, the international campaign aimed at pressuring Israel through boycotts. Mamdani reiterated that he backs the initiative as a tool to encourage Israel to abide by international law.
“And I’ve said, I support BDS because this is a movement that is looking for that kind of compliance. We haven’t seen it,” he stated.
“Morning Joe” co-host Willie Geist pressed Mamdani on how he reconciles his support for the movement with the concerns of Jewish New Yorkers, many of whom fear he holds hostility toward their community. BDS has been criticized by the Anti-Defamation League, which argues that it oversimplifies the conflict, delegitimizes Israel, and fuels antisemitism.
Mamdani emphasized that his criticisms are directed at government policies, not at Jewish people.
“I think critiques of the state of Israel are critiques of a government, as opposed to critiques of a people and of a faith,” he said. “And my job is to represent every single New Yorker, and I will do so no matter their thoughts and opinions on Israel and Palestine, of which millions of New Yorkers have very strong views — and I’m one of them.”
Several Jewish community leaders in New York City have sounded alarms over Mamdani’s views, arguing he would be a threat to Jewish safety.
“To be clear, unequivocal, and on the record, I believe Zohran Mamdani poses a danger to the security of the New York Jewish community,” Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of the Conservative Park Avenue Synagogue told his congregation in October.
Mamdani’s opponents — independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa — have also claimed he would fail to protect Jewish New Yorkers if elected.
During the Democratic primary earlier this year, Mamdani stirred controversy when he declined to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada.” While some insist it signals support for violent action against Jews, others argue it reflects nonviolent Palestinian resistance. He later said he would discourage its use.
Mamdani was previously recorded at a 2023 rally urging New York officials to back his state assembly bill aimed at preventing not-for-profit corporations from participating in unauthorized support for certain Israeli settlement activities.
“Are we ready to end New York state subsidy of settler crimes? Are we ready to say, ‘Not on our dime?'” he shouted at the event.
During the MSNBC interview, Geist asked Mamdani whether BDS would influence his policies as mayor.
“I’ve said that I would support and have supported non-violent movements to bring about compliance with international law,” Mamdani replied. “And where this mayor [Eric Adams] has violated and looked to violate that kind of law, I would bring us back into compliance.”
He also stated that he would serve as the mayor for all Jewish New Yorkers.
