OAN Staff Blake Wolf
11:26 AM – Thursday, July 10, 2025
Jewish Democrat Congressional figures have begun sounding the alarm over NYC Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s political rhetoric, which they argue could potentially lead to a rise in antisemitism—despite being part of the same political party as the newcomer.
Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist, has been facing backlash after refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” in addition to not recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.
“Globalize the intifada” is an anti-Zionist slogan that has been used to advocate for international support of Palestinian resistance against all Israeli occupation. Additionally, the American Jewish Committee says that “calls to ‘Globalize the Intifada’ contribute to the sense that people around the world need to take action against supporters of Israel around the world.”
Prior to edging out former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in the NYC Democrat mayoral primary, Mamdani declined to condemn the phrase, instead claiming that he would “protect Jewish New Yorkers” should he win the upcoming November election.
“I’ve heard from many Jewish New Yorkers who have shared their concerns with me, especially in light of the horrific attacks that we saw in Washington, D.C., and in Boulder, Colorado, about this moment of antisemitism in our country and in our city,” Mamdani stated. “And I’ve heard those fears, and I’ve had those conversations.”
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), a Jewish Democrat, has voiced her concerns since Mamdani first emerged in the public spotlight. She is Florida’s first female Jewish member of Congress.
“To not be willing to condemn the term ‘globalize the intifada,’ it just demonstrates his callous disregard for antisemitism, terrorist activity. … Anyone that I care about couldn’t possibly distance themselves from him more,” stated Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.). “It’s really terribly disturbing and potentially dangerous.”
“When you have a prominent candidate who is giving permission to use dangerous rhetoric that potentially incites violence and incites people and creates a permission structure to fan the flames of violence? That’s just completely unacceptable,” she added. “And how he doesn’t understand that shows me that he isn’t ready for prime time.”
Jewish Democrat Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) also accused Mamdani of “gaslighting the public” by suggesting that the phrase “globalize the intifada” is a “peaceful call.”
“I think he’s wrong on all those things,” added Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.). “If he can’t tell people ‘globalizing the intifada’ — if he can’t say that that’s antisemitic, then obviously he’s going to continue to add to the problem, not deflate it.”
Additionally, a Jewish advocacy group similarly condemned Mamdani after a video posted to his account last year from the “Geeta Brothers Duet Group” resurfaced, as it featured two men “cosplaying Jews” and even mocking Hanukkah.
“Zohran Mamdani posts Indian men cosplaying Jews, spinning dreidels and lighting the menorah. Our holidays and traditions are sacred and not for your comedic pleasure,” wrote the Jewish group Stop Antisemitism on Saturday. “This is sick.”
Antisemitism has been increasingly prevalent in the United States, appearing to surge in response to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas, which has continued to escalate in Gaza following the Hamas-led terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023.
Leaders in the Israeli government, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, have since been formally charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, although they have both maintained their innocence while labeling the charges “antisemitic.”
Netanyahu branded the move a “moral outrage of historic proportions”, arguing that it unjustly equates Israel’s leadership with Hamas terrorists. He also argued that this is akin to “modern‑day Dreyfus trials,” referencing historical antisemitism designed to tarnish Jewish reputations.
Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry reported that there have been approximately 60,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began, asserting that “over half are women and children,” though the figures conveniently do not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Skeptics have argued that the Gaza Health Ministry’s figures are unreliable due to Hamas influence. However, Israel has not allowed international journalists from entering Gaza to provide independent reporting on an official death toll, the humanitarian crisis, or the alleged war crimes.
UNRWA Commissioner‑General Philippe Lazzarini decried the restrictions as “unprecedented in any other conflict in modern history” and called it “a ban on the truth…perfect recipe to fuel misinformation.” However, a leaked Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs report from April reported that up to 12% of UNRWA staff in Gaza—around 1,462 individuals—are affiliated with Hamas, including “principals, engineers, and medical staff,” with “some participating in the October 7th attack.”
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