Zohran Mamdani faces backlash over 'globalize the intifada' comments in New York mayoral race
Shreeaa Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Jun 25, 2025, 19:42 IST
( Image credit : TOI.in, TOIGLOBAL )
Amidst the heated dynamics of the New York mayoral race, candidate Zohran Mamdani is under fire for his comments on the phrase 'globalize the intifada'. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Jewish organizations and political leaders, who highlight the slogan's links to violence. In response, Mamdani cited the U.S. Holocaust Museum's reference to 'intifada' to justify his stance.
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat, faced criticism from Jewish organizations and political figures this week after his remarks regarding the slogan “globalize the intifada.” Mamdani's comments, made in an interview with The Bulwark, sparked controversy, leading to responses from the U.S. Holocaust Museum, the Anti-Defamation League, and fellow political figures, including Rep. Dan Goldman and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the issue of antisemitism and the war in Gaza have become prominent in the mayoral primary ahead of Tuesday's election. Mamdani addressed the controversy at a media event, expressing his pain at being labeled an antisemite and sharing the threats he has received.
Zohran Mamdani, a New York state assemblyman and Democratic mayoral hopeful, has drawn criticism for his response to a question about the slogan “globalize the intifada.”
In an interview with The Bulwark, Mamdani stated the slogan captured “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.”
He also referenced the U.S. Holocaust Museum's use of the word “intifada” in Arabic descriptions of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.
The Washington-based U.S. Holocaust Museum responded to Mamdani’s remarks on X.
“Exploiting the Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to sanitize ‘globalize the intifada’ is outrageous and especially offensive to survivors. Since 1987 Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner. All leaders must condemn its use and the abuse of history.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, also criticized the phrase on X, calling it an “explicit incitement to violence.”
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., stated that the word “intifada” is “well understood to refer to the violent terror attacks against innocent Israeli civilians that occurred during the First and Second Intifadas.”
“If Mr. Mamdani is unwilling to heed the request of major Jewish organizations to condemn this unquestionably antisemitic phrase,” Goldman added, “then he is unfit to lead a city with 1.3 million Jews — the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.”
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo also weighed in, calling on all mayoral contenders to “denounce” Mamdani’s comments.
Cuomo invoked recent violent attacks against Jewish people, stating, “At a time when we are seeing antisemitism on the rise and in fact witnessing once again violence against Jews resulting in their deaths in Washington, D.C., or their burning in Denver — we know all too well that words matter."
“They fuel hate. They fuel murder.”
Cuomo has presented himself as a strong supporter of Israel.
Mamdani has characterized Israel’s conduct in Gaza as “genocide.”
Mamdani addressed the controversy at a media event in Harlem on Wednesday.
He said that “it pains me to be called an antisemite.”
“I’ve said at every opportunity that there is no room for antisemitism in this city, in this country. I’ve said that because that is something I personally believe,” he said.
Mamdani also spoke about the threats he has received.
“I get messages that say: ‘The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim.’ I get threats on my life, on the people that I love,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani has received an endorsement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
The war in Gaza and the rise in antisemitism have become significant issues in the mayoral primary.
Mamdani also addressed the rise in antisemitism since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack and the war in Gaza.
He said anti-Jewish prejudice was “a real issue in our city” and one that the next mayor should focus on “tackling.”
He added that he believes the city’s community safety offices should increase funding for anti-hate crime measures.
The primary election is on Tuesday.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who won election as a Democrat in 2021, is not participating in the party’s nominating contest.
He is reportedly petitioning to run on two independent ballot lines: “EndAntiSemitism” and “Safe&Affordable.”
Zohran Mamdani, a New York state assemblyman and Democratic mayoral hopeful, has drawn criticism for his response to a question about the slogan “globalize the intifada.”
In an interview with The Bulwark, Mamdani stated the slogan captured “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.”
He also referenced the U.S. Holocaust Museum's use of the word “intifada” in Arabic descriptions of the 1944 Warsaw Uprising.
The Washington-based U.S. Holocaust Museum responded to Mamdani’s remarks on X.
“Exploiting the Museum and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to sanitize ‘globalize the intifada’ is outrageous and especially offensive to survivors. Since 1987 Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner. All leaders must condemn its use and the abuse of history.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the Anti-Defamation League, also criticized the phrase on X, calling it an “explicit incitement to violence.”
Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., stated that the word “intifada” is “well understood to refer to the violent terror attacks against innocent Israeli civilians that occurred during the First and Second Intifadas.”
“If Mr. Mamdani is unwilling to heed the request of major Jewish organizations to condemn this unquestionably antisemitic phrase,” Goldman added, “then he is unfit to lead a city with 1.3 million Jews — the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.”
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo also weighed in, calling on all mayoral contenders to “denounce” Mamdani’s comments.
Cuomo invoked recent violent attacks against Jewish people, stating, “At a time when we are seeing antisemitism on the rise and in fact witnessing once again violence against Jews resulting in their deaths in Washington, D.C., or their burning in Denver — we know all too well that words matter."
“They fuel hate. They fuel murder.”
Cuomo has presented himself as a strong supporter of Israel.
Mamdani has characterized Israel’s conduct in Gaza as “genocide.”
Mamdani addressed the controversy at a media event in Harlem on Wednesday.
He said that “it pains me to be called an antisemite.”
“I’ve said at every opportunity that there is no room for antisemitism in this city, in this country. I’ve said that because that is something I personally believe,” he said.
Mamdani also spoke about the threats he has received.
“I get messages that say: ‘The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim.’ I get threats on my life, on the people that I love,” Mamdani said.
Mamdani has received an endorsement from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.
The war in Gaza and the rise in antisemitism have become significant issues in the mayoral primary.
Mamdani also addressed the rise in antisemitism since the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack and the war in Gaza.
He said anti-Jewish prejudice was “a real issue in our city” and one that the next mayor should focus on “tackling.”
He added that he believes the city’s community safety offices should increase funding for anti-hate crime measures.
The primary election is on Tuesday.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who won election as a Democrat in 2021, is not participating in the party’s nominating contest.
He is reportedly petitioning to run on two independent ballot lines: “EndAntiSemitism” and “Safe&Affordable.”