(AP)
Israel blasted New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday, saying he’s pouring “antisemitic gasoline on an open fire” after the Democrat used his first day in office to roll back multiple city policies supporting Israel.Mamdani revoked an executive order signed last month by former Mayor Eric Adams that barred city officials from boycotting or divesting from Israel. His administration also repealed an order adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which Adams’ administration said included “demonising Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism.” The IHRA definition is viewed by many Jewish leaders as a key standard in fighting antisemitism.Israel’s foreign ministry accused the new mayor of inflaming tensions in a strongly worded statement posted online. “On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel,” it said on X, adding, “This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.” Mamdani also axed Executive Order 61, issued last month, which directed the NYPD to step up enforcement to protect synagogues and other religious institutions from harassment by protesters. The order included restrictions creating buffer zones that limited demonstrations within a certain distance of churches, mosques and synagogues.City Hall said Mamdani’s first executive order revoked all executive orders issued by Adams on or after September 26, 2024 — the day the former mayor was indicted on federal corruption charges — to ensure “a fresh start for the incoming administration.” Officials said the mayor will reissue executive orders he continues to support.The moves also drew criticism from local Republicans. Brooklyn Councilwoman Inna Vernikov wrote on social media, “We need to enforce federal law that’s already in place here because the pro-Hamas antisemites emboldened by @NYCMayor are coming!”In a separate post, she criticised the repeal of the IHRA order, saying, “Mamdani @NYCMayor just UNDID previous executive order which adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism.” “IHRA protects from discrimination Jews who believe in self determination and provides clarity on the definition,” she added.
