NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Denies Israel’s Existence in Resurfaced Video

Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash after a resurfaced video shows him denying Israel’s existence as a country and expressing radical anti-Israel views.

Key Facts:

Zohran Mamdani is the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor and a vocal critic of Israel.
In a January 2024 panel, Mamdani stated “Israel is not a place, it is not a country.”
He refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” commonly seen as a call for violence against Jews.
Mamdani supports the BDS movement and has promoted it since college.
He also condemned the idea of a two-state solution as unrealistic and outdated.

The Rest of The Story:

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic frontrunner for New York City mayor, is under fire again after a video from January 2024 surfaced in which he questioned Israel’s legitimacy.

In a panel discussion on Palestinian solidarity, Mamdani claimed that Israel is “not a place” or a “country,” but rather “an idea,” criticizing U.S. politicians for what he described as outdated and blind allegiance to Israel.

He called the two-state solution “physically impossible” and described American support for Israel as disconnected from reality.

“There is a fear amongst the political class across this country of a discourse that is rising that seeks to question this convention,” Mamdani stated.

He also labeled pro-Israel support in the U.S. as a political machine that no longer reflects the public’s sentiment.

Mamdani’s history with the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement stretches back to his college years.

In a 2021 video, he promoted opposing Israeli ties at every level—even shipping containers and academic institutions.

"Israel is not a place, it is not a country," said Zohran Mamdani at a panel in 2023 surrounded by Hamas supporters Simone Zimmerman, Najla Said and Noura Erakat. pic.twitter.com/QGA1NFJ7kH

— Canary Mission (@canarymission) July 31, 2025

Commentary:

There is no ambiguity in Mamdani’s words.

Saying “Israel is not a country” isn’t a debate on policy—it’s a rejection of the Jewish state’s very existence.

For a man seeking to lead America’s largest city, home to the country’s largest Jewish population, this is deeply troubling. New Yorkers, especially the Jewish community, should be alarmed.

A mayor who questions Israel’s right to exist can’t be trusted to safeguard the interests and well-being of the city’s Jewish citizens.

This goes beyond politics—this is about safety and ideological extremism. The left has drifted into dangerous waters when it comes to Israel.

While mainstream Democrats once supported Israel as a key U.S. ally, figures like Mamdani are pushing a narrative that not only challenges that alliance but outright denies Israel’s legitimacy.

Mamdami: “it’s beyond me that politicians use this tragedy to gain political points”.

He then decides to walk back his comments about defunding the police, but the internet is forever. pic.twitter.com/4zwpmBZHIC

— Rep. Wesley Hunt Press Office (@RepWPH) July 31, 2025

He’s not just critical of policy or leadership—he’s promoting a worldview where Israel has no right to exist and must be isolated economically and politically.

And let’s be clear—Mamdani is not simply a progressive or a democratic socialist. The language he uses, the causes he supports, and the intensity of his views align more with radicalism than any mainstream ideology.

His remarks sound more like a revolutionary manifesto than the vision of a city leader.

If Mamdani truly believes Israel is a fiction, then what does that mean for the Jews of New York who proudly support it, have family there, or simply exist without denying their heritage?

New Yorkers deserve leadership that reflects the city’s values of coexistence and pluralism—not someone who demonizes an entire nation and its people.

If Mamdani’s views go unchallenged, it sets a precedent for antisemitism masquerading as political commentary. The city can’t afford that.