Zohran Mamdani Wins New York Mayor Election, Israeli Minister Invites Jewish Citizens To Return Home

JAKARTA - A number of Israeli officials have criticized the election of Zohran Mamdani as the first Muslim mayor of New York, United States, calling on Jews in the city to migrate to Israel.

Prospective mayor from the Democratic Party won 1,036,051 votes (50.4 percent) ahead of independent candidate Andrew Cuomo who won 854,995 votes (41.6 percent) and deputy Republican Curtis Sliwa who won 146,137 votes (7.1 percent), with the number of votes calculated at 90.5 percent, quoted from NBC News November 5.

Mamdani received support from a wide and diverse voter base, including Jews who rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, especially during the two years of the genocide war in the Gaza Strip.

"This city, which used to be a symbol of world freedom, has handed over its key to a Hamas supporter," said Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amicai Chikli in a post on social media X Wednesday, reported by Anadolu.

The politician from the Likud Party led by PM Netanyahu called Mamdani's victory a "critical turning point" for New York, "a place that has been the largest Jewish community bulwark in the world outside Israel" since the end of the 19th century.

"I invite New York Jews to consider positively determining their new place in Israel," he said.

Meanwhile, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called Mamdani's election as New York Mayor a "an antisemitism victory over common sense," and called the newly elected mayor "hamas supporters, Israeli haters, and true antisemites."

For three years, Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon also criticized Mamdani.

"Mamdani's provocative statement will not deter us," Danon said in X, pledging to strengthen ties with leaders of the Jewish community in New York.

In a statement on local radio 103 FM, Danon claims Mamdani's election could damage "the sense of security of the Jewish community," as he is directly responsible for the police.

Mamdani, in a pre-election statement, promised to order the New York Police Department to arrest PM Netanyahu if he visited the city, respecting an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for a war crime committed by the prime minister in the Gaza Strip.

On the other hand, he has also repeatedly criticized antisemitism and expressed his support for the Jewish community in the city.

"I have said at every opportunity that there is no room for antisemitism in this city, in this country. I say that because it is something I personally believe in," he said during the campaign.

He also promised to build City Hall, "which stands firm alongside the Jewish citizens of New York, and does not waver in the fight against the specter of antisemitism."