Zohran Mamdani’s Historic Victory as NY Mayor Sparks Alarm in Israel

DID Press: Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party’s candidate, has been elected Mayor of New York city in a historic election — an event that has not only transformed the political landscape of the United States but has also ringed alarm bells in Tel Aviv. The Zionist newspaper Israel Hayom has described this victory as an “existential threat to Israel,” expressing concern about the spread of the “Mamdani model” among Western Jewish communities.

Associated Press reported early Wednesday that Zohran Mamdani, a progressive politician and member of the Democratic Party, has won the New York mayoral election by a significant margin. Bernie Sanders, a prominent U.S. senator, called this victory “one of the greatest political surprises in modern US history.”

Following the announcement of the results, Israel Hayom warned that Mamdani’s victory represents “an existential threat” to Israel.

“Mamdani’s political model is based on identifying and empowering anti-Zionist Jews. He gives them a platform and uses them as a shield against accusations of antisemitism,” wrote the Newspaper.

According to Israeli analysts, Mamdani has succeeded in promoting a form of “Judaism opposed to Israel” among young American Jews, placing mainstream Jewish organizations in a crisis of identity.

Israel Hayom further warned that Mamdani’s victory could become a model for other major Western cities, including London, Paris, and Toronto — a trend that, it argues, would “weaken the historical bond between world Jewry and Israel.”

Zohran Mamdani, who comes from a migrant family with Ugandan and Indian roots, has emerged in recent years as one of the most prominent figures in the Democratic Party’s left wing. His pro-Palestine stance and criticism of Israeli policies have made him a new symbol of anti-Zionist politics in the United States.