New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has enraged Israel after scrapping a Zionist-approved IHRA definition of antisemitism and revoking decrees banning a popular anti-Israel BDS boycott campaign on his first day in office.
On January 1, Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a sweeping order undoing several pro-Israel policies introduced by the previous administration.
Among them was New York City’s formal use of an internationally recognised framework used to identify and respond to antisemitic incidents – the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.
The decision removed the city’s reliance on a controversial but widely used standard in the West that currently guides how antisemitism is defined.
City officials confirmed the change took effect immediately, meaning the definition is no longer used in city policy or training.
The mayor also reversed related executive orders connected to Israel, protest restrictions and municipal boycotts providing the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement greater freedom to operate in New York, including in government institutions.
Supporters of the move say it restores civil liberties and protects political speech, particularly around the Palestine issue.
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The IHRA definition of antisemitism is controversial primarily because critics argue its examples blur the line between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism, potentially stifling free speech, particularly concerning Palestinian rights advocacy and academic debate.
Concerns include its vague wording, focusing on subjective “perceptions,” making it prone to misuse to silence dissent, and its conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
The definition has also been praised and defending by pro-Israel forces and has been used by pro-Israel activists and lobbyists to smear pro-Palestine activists in the UK and U.S..
Furious Israeli response.
Israel reacted within hours, with officials accusing the new mayor of sending a dangerous signal and of being “antisemitic.”
The Israeli foreign ministry warned in a statement posted on X that the move risked encouraging antisemitism during an already volatile period.
“On his very first day as New York City Mayor, Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel. This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
Several major Jewish organisations in the United States also expressed alarm.
They said removing the internationally recognised standard undermined efforts to tackle antisemitic abuse and harassment.
Some warned Jewish New Yorkers could feel less protected without a clear definition guiding city institutions. Others accused the mayor of prioritising ideology over community safety.
The backlash was swift in Israeli media, where the decision was framed as hostile and irresponsible.
Critics linked the move to Mamdani’s past support for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israeli government policies.
New York is one of the world’s most diverse cities, home to large Jewish and Muslim populations. Decisions taken there often influence debates far beyond the city limits.
The removal of the internationally recognised definition may embolden other cities to reconsider similar policies at a time when Israel and the Zionist political ideology face global scrutiny following the genocide in Gaza.
