Israel’s foreign ministry has accused New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, of stoking antisemitism after he revoked a series of executive orders signed by his predecessor, Eric Adams.
In a post on X, the ministry said Mamdani was pouring “antisemitic gasoline on an open fire” by scrapping the city’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism and lifting restrictions related to boycotts of Israel.
“On his very first day as @NYCMayor, Mamdani shows his true face,” the ministry said, describing the moves as a failure of leadership.
Mamdani overturned an Adams-era order that formally adopted the IHRA definition, which the previous administration said included demonising Israel and holding it to double standards as forms of contemporary antisemitism.
Israel’s response came hours after Mamdani rescinded all executive orders issued by Adams following his federal indictment on corruption charges in 2024. Those charges were later dropped in a decision that drew controversy.
Mamdani’s office said the revocations were intended to give the new administration “a fresh start”.
Among the orders now scrapped was one barring city officials involved in managing New York’s pension funds from making decisions aligned with the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. Mamdani has previously said he supports BDS.
Another revoked order directed the New York police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, to review proposals for regulating protests near places of worship. It followed demonstrations outside an Upper East Side synagogue hosting an event promoting immigration to Israel, which prompted claims of antisemitism.
Announcing the measures last month, Adams said Jewish New Yorkers had been unfairly targeted in recent years. He said the orders were meant to protect religious freedom and prevent harassment.
The measures were widely seen as an attempt to constrain Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist whose past remarks on Israel, including a pledge to divest city funds from Israeli government bonds, have drawn criticism.
In his inaugural address on Thursday, Mamdani sought to reassure Jewish residents. “Where else could a Muslim kid like me grow up eating bagels and lox?” he said.
He was sworn in on the Qur’an by the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, a Jewish New Yorker. Several Jewish religious leaders who had not endorsed Mamdani during the campaign also attended the ceremony.
“I know there are some who view this administration with distrust or disdain,” Mamdani said. “But if you are a New Yorker, I am your mayor. Regardless of whether we agree, I will protect you, celebrate with you, mourn alongside you, and never hide from you.”
After signing his first executive orders, Mamdani said he would retain the city’s recently created office to combat antisemitism. “That is an issue that we take very seriously,” he told reporters.
He did not indicate whether he would reinstate the adoption of the IHRA definition, which critics argue broadly equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
William Daroff, chief executive of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations, criticised the decision, calling it “a troubling indicator of the direction in which he is leading the city”.
Speaking to the liberal Jewish outlet Forward, Daroff said the move weakened New York City’s ability to identify and respond to antisemitism at a time when reported incidents continue to rise.
