I'm a Zionist Jew from New York; I Had to Vote Mamdani
Choosing whom to support in the mayoral election was an excruciating process that occupied me for weeks. As a lifelong Zionist and native New Yorker, I kept asking myself who could best guide our city through these dark times.
Ultimately, a conversation with a respected family friend—an Israeli who has lived in New York for 25 years—helped me reach a decision. I had already viewed Andrew Cuomo as arrogant, aging, and a known womanizer. My friend reinforced this impression with a striking remark:
“I’d vote for Bibi, who you know I despise, before I’d vote for Cuomo.”
He elaborated that Israelis, many of whom had told me Mamdani was an antisemite and a threat to American Jews, often lacked the context to grasp the nuances of this election. Ironically, he noted, Israelis have accused Americans of the same blind spot when confronted with their strong backing of the Palestinian cause.
Many Americans siding with Palestinians failed to grasp the reality behind the phrase “From the river to the Sea.” They had never seen Israel’s narrow geography or understood how close the borders were—and how often attacks occurred. They couldn’t comprehend how Hamas has for decades stored weapons and fighters in mosques, hospitals, and schools, showing disregard for civilians. Nor did they see how Netanyahu’s government underestimated the possibility of a large-scale Hamas assault like that of October 7.
Author’s Summary
A New York Zionist reflects on the moral and political complexity behind supporting Mamdani, revealing the tension between American and Israeli perspectives on justice and security.