New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sparked fresh controversy on Sunday after saying he does not support Israel’s identity as a Jewish state and accusing Israel of using billions of dollars in American military aid to violate international law and kill civilians.

Speaking during an interview with ABC News, Mamdani was asked whether he supports Israel’s definition as a Jewish state. He responded, “I think any state that privileges one religion over another is a state that I cannot tell you I support, whether it be Israel, Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.” He added, “I’ve said time and again that I support the state of Israel as a state with equal rights.”

Zohran Mamdani to ABC News:

I've said time and again that I support the state of Israel as a state with equal rights.

I believe that any state that privileges one religion over the other is one that I can't tell you I support, whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia or anywhere… pic.twitter.com/Rica4Fi05I

— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 28, 2026

Mamdani also criticized continued U.S. military assistance to Israel, arguing that Democratic voters are increasingly opposed to the policy.

“We’ve seen Democrats turn out in droves in districts across this city to make clear that they are tired of tens of billions of dollars of our taxpayer money going to violate international law, to kill thousands of civilians,” he said.

Asked whether there is still room within the Democratic Party for lawmakers who support military aid to Israel, Mamdani declined to answer directly and instead argued that party leaders should follow the will of Democratic voters.

“I think what we’ve seen is that it’s time for us as elected officials to stop declaring what the party should be, but instead we should allow Democratic voters themselves to take the lead,” he said.

He also addressed the ongoing conflict involving Israel and the Palestinians, saying, “You and I know that right now the way Palestine is described is as though there is a ceasefire—that’s the language that’s generally used. More than a thousand Palestinians have been killed in this ‘ceasefire.’ What New Yorkers want to see is a politics of conscience, a politics of clarity, a politics of deep conviction. To act according to international law, to believe in the humanity of all people—that should not be too much to ask, and I think our party needs to listen to what Democrats are saying.”

Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, sharply rejected Mamdani’s remarks.

“No one needs your recognition of Israel,” Akunis said. “If you knew a little history, instead of inciting and spreading hatred all day, you would know that Israel’s Declaration of Independence guaranteed full equality for all its citizens—and that has been the reality since the day our state was established.”

Akunis also warned that rhetoric such as Mamdani’s contributes to the rise in antisemitism across the United States.

“The surge in antisemitism across America is the result of ignorance and a lack of knowledge, combined with a fundamental hatred of the Jewish people,” he said. “I warn once again that Mamdani’s inciting words will end in very serious and violent acts against Jewish communities in the city and against the Israelis who live there.”

{Matzav.com}