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By Jesus Mesa
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New York City Democratic Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed scrutiny over his past refusal to condemn the controversial phrase “globalize the intifada” following a deadly attack that targeted a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach in Sydney.
In a statement released hours after the shooting, Mamdani condemned the violence. “The attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney today was a vile act of antisemitic terror,” he said. “I mourn those who were murdered and will be keeping their families, the Jewish community, and the Chabad movement in my prayers. May the memories of all those killed be a blessing.”
But Mamdani’s critics seized on the moment, pointing to his refusal to condemn the controversial phrase during his mayoral campaign.
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Newsweek reached out to Mamdani’s team for comment on Monday.
Why It Matters
Australian officials say a father and son are suspected of killing 16 people at a popular Australian beach, an attack that has shocked a country where gun violence is rare. A day after the shooting, the government on Monday proposed tougher gun laws, amid criticism that authorities failed to adequately address a recent string of antisemitic attacks.
The victims of the shooting were attending a Hanukkah celebration, where hundreds had gathered to mark the first day of the eight-day Jewish holiday. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the attack as an act of antisemitic terrorism.
What To Know
The phrase “globalize the intifada” has been a flashpoint in New York politics, particularly following pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel. Critics, including members of the Jewish community and several elected officials, have argued that the slogan is used by some who support violent uprisings against Jews worldwide.
Mamdani, a Muslim and progressive state assemblyman, repeatedly declined to condemn the phrase during his campaign. “That’s not language that I use,” he told NBC’s Kristen Welker on Meet the Press in June.
In the aftermath of the Bondi Beach shooting, Mamdani’s past remarks have faced renewed scrutiny. Writing in The Atlantic, columnist David Frum criticized the mayor-elect for appearing to assign equal blame to both protesters and a synagogue during a past demonstration in New York. “The massacre on Bondi Beach is an ultimate consequence of this well-meaning condescension,” Frum wrote, condemning public officials for downplaying threats from anti-Israel extremists.
“When people chant ‘intifada revolution,’ they are revealing something important about their goals and methods,” he added.
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Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, echoed that concern in a post on X directed at Mamdani. “When you refuse to condemn and only ‘discourage’ use of the term ‘Globalize the Intifada,’ you help facilitate (not cause) the thinking that leads to Bondi Beach,” she wrote, linking to a June Politico article about Mamdani’s prior refusal to denounce the phrase.
Current Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams also responded to the attack, without naming Mamdani directly. Speaking at an NYPD event on Monday, Adams said, “The attack in Sydney is exactly what it means to ‘globalize the intifada,’” describing the shooting as a real-world application of the slogan’s intent. His remarks were regarded as many as a veiled criticism of Mamdani’s past position.
Rabbi David Wolpe, emeritus of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and a vocal critic of antisemitism on campus, posted, “How about now, Mr. Mayor?”—a comment echoed by Republicans and Mamdani’s opponents. Conservative commentator Laura Loomer also replied directly to Mamdani’s post on X, stating, “You got your wish of ‘globalize the intifada.’”
New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, a Republican representing Queens' 19th District, wrote: “But Zohran, they were just trying to ‘globalize the Intifada’—why would you condemn such a thing when you’ve defended it multiple times over the last few months?”
Mamdani Says He Won't Change Views on Israel
While Mamdani has worked to build bridges with the Jewish community in New York—the largest outside of Israel—meeting with both Orthodox leaders in Crown Heights and liberal Jewish activists in Manhattan after his election in November, critics argue that his refusal to explicitly denounce inflammatory slogans continues to undermine those efforts.
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In an interview that aired Sunday, Mamdani responded to recent criticism from Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, senior rabbi at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue, who said after a meeting last week that Mamdani’s refusal to recognize Israel specifically as a Jewish state could contribute to antisemitism.
"My inability to say what Rabbi [Ammiel] Hirsch would like me to say comes from a belief that every state should be of equal rights, whether we're speaking about Israel or Saudi Arabia, or anywhere in the world," the mayor-elect said.
What People Are Saying
Mamdani said in his statement on Sunday: "This attack is merely the latest, most horrifying iteration in a growing pattern of violence targeted at Jewish people across the world. Too many no longer feel safe to be themselves, to express their faith publicly, to worship in their synagogues without armed security stationed outside. What happened at Bondi is what many Jewish people fear will happen in their communities too."
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote in an X post on Sunday: “Antisemitism has no place in this world. Our prayers are with the victims of this horrific attack, the Jewish community, and the people of Australia.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement: “This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith. An act of evil, antisemitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation."
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement: "Our brothers and sisters in Sydney have been attacked by vile terrorists in a very cruel attack on Jews who went to light the first candle of Hanukkah on Bondi Beach."
What Happens Next
Thirty-eight people remained hospitalized following the shooting, including Ahmed al-Ahmed, a Muslim man and Syrian citizen who helped take down one of the suspects during Sunday’s deadly attack. It has been reported he may lose an arm as a result of his actions.
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