Governor Hochul Calls on Mayor Mamdani to Shift Focus from Israel to New York City Governance

New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged Mayor Zohran Mamdani to concentrate on housing, childcare and other municipal issues rather than foreign-policy debates about Israel. The exchange came amid concern in New York’s Jewish community over Mamdani’s anti-Israel statements, including a video in which he called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” while noting the mayor’s lack of authority to arrest the foreign leader.

i24NEWSTimes of IsraelCity and State New YorkNewsweekReport: Anti-Semitism Is Thriving in Mamdani’s NYC Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)

Mamdani took office in January 2026 after campaigning on calls to arrest Netanyahu if he visited New York and to boycott Cornell Tech over alleged ties to the Israeli military. He has reversed several pro-Israel policies of his predecessor, Mayor Eric Adams, and skipped the city’s annual Israel Day parade. He retained NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, a self-identified “proud Zionist,” and has not altered the department’s cooperation with Israeli law-enforcement agencies, including an officer-exchange program that began after 9/11.

City and State New Yorki24NEWSReport: Anti-Semitism Is Thriving in Mamdani’s NYC Newsweek

• The NYPD reported that 70 % of all hate crimes in the most recent month targeted Jews.

Times of Israel

• United Jewish Teachers documented at least 250 antisemitic and anti-Israel incidents in New York City schools since the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.

Report: Anti-Semitism Is Thriving in Mamdani’s NYC

• A stabbing outside a synagogue occurred days after Mamdani’s video release.

Times of Israel

Hochul reminded Mamdani that the mayor lacks authority to arrest a foreign head of state. Mamdani later clarified that while the mayor cannot enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant, he expects the U.S. federal government to act if Netanyahu visits for the UN General Assembly. The NYPD has not changed its liaison work with Israeli agencies, and no travel bans to Israel have been imposed by City Hall.

City and State New York

Jewish leaders say Mamdani’s rhetoric fuels antisemitic incidents. Daniel Rosen of the Impact coalition linked recent synagogue attacks to the mayor’s comments. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman framed the issue as a political choice, declaring, “I am running for governor because we can’t afford to have four more years of Comrade Kathy with three more years of Mamdani the Commie,” and positioning himself as a “Jewish Zionist” opposed to Mamdani’s stance.

Times of Israel

The NYPD’s hate-crime data specify a 70 % share of incidents targeting Jews, while the United Jewish Teachers report aggregates 250 school-based incidents without a percentage breakdown. No independent audit has reconciled these figures, leaving uncertainty about the overall scale of antisemitic activity across the city.

Report: Anti-Semitism Is Thriving in Mamdani’s NYC

• “Let’s focus on the fundamentals of municipal management,” — Kathy Hochul

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• “There is no question that his statements and behavior contribute to the increase in violence,” — Eric Fingerhut, Jewish Federations of North America

Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)

• “I am running for governor because we can’t afford to have four more years of Comrade Kathy with three more years of Mamdani the Commie,” — Bruce Blakeman

Times of Israel

• “When the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF” — Zohran Mamdani

City and State New York

• “It’s not just about this synagogue. It’s about all synagogues. It’s not just about this act of violence. It’s about the string of violence that has been happening across the city and really across the country,” — Daniel Rosen

Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)

Governor Hochul is campaigning for re-election in November, emphasizing public safety and municipal services. The mayor’s office has not announced any policy changes regarding NYPD cooperation with Israeli agencies, and no further official statements on the issue are scheduled.

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