Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls on Zohran Mamdani to denounce ‘globalise the intifada’ following primary win

JTA – New York Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called on New York City mayoral primary winner Zohran Mamdani to denounce the phrase “globalise the intifada”.

In an interview with WNYC on Thursday, 26 June, Gillibrand told host Brian Lehrer that she had spoken to Mamdani the day prior to congratulate him on his victory, but replied “not today” when asked if she would be endorsing him.

“I raised some issues that if he does become the mayor, will be important that we not only work on together, but I raised some concerns I had,” said Gillibrand of the call with Mamdani.

Gillibrand’s post-election comments contrast sharply with those of her fellow New York senator, House Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and United States Representative Jerry Nadler, a Democrat from the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Following Mamdani’s victory, Schumer, who is Jewish, offered brief praise for the candidate in an X post, but didn’t refer to the discussion over Mamdani’s views on Israel.

“I have known @ZohranKMamdani since we worked together to provide debt relief for thousands of beleaguered taxi drivers and fought to stop a fracked gas plant in Astoria,” Schumer posted on X. “He ran an impressive campaign that connected with New Yorkers about affordability, fairness, and opportunity.”

Meanwhile, Nadler, representing a historically liberal, Jewish district, endorsed the 33-year-old progressive in the November election, saying, “I’ve spoken to him today about his commitment to fighting antisemitism, and we’ll work with all New Yorkers to fight against all bigotry and hate.”

Gillibrand said she, too, spoke to Mamdani in a phone call after the primary, but plans to sit down with him in person.

Mamdani drew heat from Jewish leaders last week when he declined to condemn the phrase “Globalise the intifada” while speaking on The Bulwark podcast. He said the phrase, which many Jews see as a call for violent attacks on Jews and Israelis, instead signifies “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights”. He said he wouldn’t repudiate the phrase because “the role of the mayor isn’t to police language”.

In the WNYC interview, Gillibrand called on Mamdani to denounce the phrase, stating that it had been used to mean “slaughter the Jews and destroy Israel”.

“As a leader of a city as diverse as New York City, with eight million people, as the largest Jewish population in the country, he should denounce it,” said Gillibrand. “That’s it. Period. You can’t celebrate it. You can’t value it. You can’t lift it up.”

“When you hear things like ‘intifada’, when you hear things like ‘jihad’, when you hear, ‘From the river to the sea,’ it’s received as ‘slaughter the Jews’ and ‘destroy Israel’. Period. It’s how it’s received,” Gillibrand said.

“If you want to be a leader, you have to recognise how these things are felt and received. Saying there should be no word police is irresponsible, because as a leader, you have to protect everyone. Period,” said Gillbrand.

Mamdani is considered the favourite in the November election, where Democratic nominees for mayor traditionally have a huge advantage.

“This is something I care deeply about, and so I will be an advocate on these issues. These are things that I think are important to New Yorkers,” Gillibrand said, referring to his comments on the Middle East.

“And I will work with him when he gets elected – if he gets elected – to make sure that everyone is protected.”

Mamdani’s defenders have said too much emphasis has been put on his background as an advocate for Palestinians, a supporter of the boycott-Israel movement, and a critic of Israel, saying his job will be to run New York, not foreign policy.