Mamdani’s New York victory sparks concern in Israel over shifting US sentiments

Mamdani, a 34-year-old progressive and vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, achieved a historic victory on Tuesday (November 4), running on a platform focused on housing, childcare, and social equity.

Yet in Israel, his outspoken pro-Palestinian stance has dominated headlines, raising fears that his rise marks a broader change in American public opinion — particularly among younger, left-leaning voters disillusioned by Israel’s war in Gaza.

Israeli reactions: ‘A very bad day’

The news from New York rippled through Israel overnight. “Very bad. For the Jews, for Israel, for everyone — it’s very bad,” a Jerusalem resident said, reflecting a sentiment shared widely across the political spectrum.

Israeli officials voiced alarm over Mamdani’s victory in a city home to the world’s second-largest Jewish population. The fact that roughly 30% of Jewish voters supported him only deepened Israel’s anxiety.

“Even in a place of immense Jewish influence — cultural, political, and financial — an American politician can now win with an openly anti-Israel message,” wrote analyst Shmuel Rosner of the Jewish People Policy Institute. “It proves that opposing Israel can now be politically profitable, or at least not damaging.”

A challenge to the old political order

Mamdani, who previously served as a New York state lawmaker, has long advocated for Palestinian rights.

He supports Israel’s right to exist but rejects any system that privileges Jews over others — a statement that many Israelis interpret as a direct challenge to Israel’s founding principles.

His campaign rhetoric, including calling the Gaza conflict “a genocide” and vowing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York, has provoked outrage among Israeli leaders and pro-Israel groups in the U.S.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon warned that Mamdani’s control over New York’s police could harm “the Jewish community’s sense of security.”

Meanwhile, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, took to social media with incendiary posts — even sharing an image of the September 11 attacks captioned “New York already forgot.”

Chikli went further, urging New York Jews to relocate to Israel, claiming: “The city that once symbolised global freedom has handed its keys to a Hamas supporter.”

A symbol of shifting American politics

For decades, U.S. domestic politics have been dominated by pro-Israel sentiment, shared by both Democrats and Republicans. But Mamdani’s triumph underscores how quickly that landscape is changing.

“Mamdani’s win shows that younger American Jews and progressives are rethinking Israel — and that the monopoly of pro-Israel politics in America is over,” said Mairav Zonszein, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group.

This shift has been accelerated by widespread outrage over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began after Hamas’ October 2023 attacks.

Graphic images of civilian suffering have ignited protests across U.S. campuses and cities, placing unprecedented pressure on American politicians to reassess Washington’s unqualified support for Israel.

Netanyahu’s silence and Trump’s support

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far refrained from commenting on Mamdani’s election.

His office, however, sought to reassure Israelis that the nation’s strategic relationship with the United States remains intact.

Government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said the outcome “does not undermine the incredible, enormous relationship the prime minister has with President Trump,” emphasising that U.S.-Israel ties are “stronger than ever.”

The Trump administration, which has consistently backed Israel’s Gaza operations, is reportedly working closely with Israeli officials on reconstruction efforts and the ongoing ceasefire process.

Palestinians celebrate Mamdani’s win

While Israel reacted with unease, Palestinians across the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip welcomed Mamdani’s election as a moment of global significance.

“This victory is truly inspiring,” said Palestinian leader Mustafa Barghouti. “It reflects a new awakening among America’s younger generation — including many young Jews — who are rejecting political and social injustice.”

Barghouti added that the outcome proves the Palestinian struggle is now a global issue, resonating even in Western democracies long considered unwavering allies of Israel.

A turning point for US-Israel relations?

For many in Israel, Mamdani’s victory feels like the start of a new chapter — one that challenges long-held assumptions about American politics.

His pro-Palestinian message, once confined to activist circles, has now entered mainstream U.S. governance in a city long seen as a bastion of Jewish identity and support for Israel.

Whether Mamdani’s mayoral term leads to actual policy changes remains to be seen. But in Israel, the symbolism is already powerful — and unsettling.