I'm a Zionist Jew from New York; I Had to Vote Mamdani
The decision was agonizing and I wrestled with it for weeks. As a New Yorker and lifelong Zionist, I asked myself, “Who would be the best candidate for mayor to guide our city through these challenging times?”
Ultimately, a conversation with a respected family friend, an Israeli who has lived in New York for 25 years, helped me decide. On Andrew Cuomo, whom I already distrusted as arrogant, too old, and a womanizer, he said:
“I'd vote for Bibi, who you know I despise, before I'd vote for Cuomo.”
He explained that many Israelis accused Mamdani of antisemitism and claimed he would be disastrous for Jews in America. However, these Israelis lacked the full context of this mayoral race—just as they criticized Americans for not fully understanding the Palestinian cause.
He pointed out that Americans supporting Palestinians often do not grasp the meaning behind phrases like “From the river to the Sea,” having never visited Israel or understood its narrow borders and the frequent attacks. They fail to see that Hamas has long embedded fighters, weapons, and ammunition in hospitals, schools, and mosques, risking their own civilians.
He also criticized the Netanyahu government for arrogantly dismissing the possibility of a Hamas attack as severe as that of October 7.
Summary
The conversation revealed deep complexities in understanding the mayoral race and the Israel-Palestine conflict, highlighting the importance of context beyond political and geographical borders.