Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, expressed deep concern over the safety of the city’s Jewish community, warning that the public atmosphere has worsened significantly in recent years and that Jews no longer feel as safe as they once did.

In an interview on Kan Moreshet, Akunis was asked whether Jews in New York are currently in danger. His response was unequivocal: “Yes.”

Akunis said that the deterioration began with anti-Israel demonstrations on US college campuses before expanding into violent protests and a public discourse that, he said, includes incitement against both Israel and Jews.

Akunis sharply criticized remarks by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, saying that his rhetoric contributes to an increasingly hostile environment toward Jews and Israel.

Addressing the rise in antisemitic incidents across the city, Akunis said that while many in the US acknowledge the problem, authorities have yet to take adequate action to curb it. He stressed that condemning antisemitism is not enough and called for stronger law enforcement efforts and the prosecution of hate crimes.

Reflecting on the city’s transformation, Akunis said New York—once, in his view, one of the safest cities in the world for Jews—has changed dramatically. “There are already physical attacks here and there, and at much higher rates than in the past,” he said.

He also pointed to demonstrations in heavily Jewish neighborhoods, arguing that the appearance of extremist symbols and chants in public spaces is something that would have been unimaginable in previous years.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)