WATCH: Fireworks At NYC Mayoral Debate When Progressive Candidate Is Asked ‘Do You Believe In a Jewish State of Israel?’
Progressive New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani sparked fireworks from his opposing candidates during Wednesday night’s debate when asked if he supported “a Jewish state of Israel?”
Mamdani, who is currently polling second behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, has been attacked in the race for his stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict and over his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America.
Whitney Tilson, a pro-Israel businessman, released a scathing attack ad against Mamdani this week, claiming he’s running to “Defund the police, [create] consequences for genocidal Zionist imperialism, and to abolish capitalism.”
At one point during the debate, the moderator asked the candidates where their first overseas trip would be to.
“I would go to Israel,” Cuomo replied.
“Mr. Tilson, where would you go?” asked one of the moderators.
“Yeah, I’d make my fourth trip to Israel, followed by my fifth trip to Ukraine, two of our greatest allies fighting on the front lines of the global war on terror,” Tilson replied.
“Mr. Mamdani,” asked the moderator.
“I would stay in New York City. My plans are to address New Yorkers across the five boroughs and focus on that,” Mamdani replied.
“Mr. Mamdani, can I just jump in? Would you visit Israel as mayor?” a different moderator followed up.
“I will be doing, as the mayor, I’ll be standing up for Jewish New Yorkers and I’ll be meeting them wherever they are across the five boroughs, whether that’s in their synagogues and temples or at their homes or at the subway platform, because ultimately we need to focus on delivering on their concerns,” Mamdani replied.
“And just yes or no, do you believe in a Jewish state of Israel?” pressed the moderator.
“I believe Israel has the right to exist,” Mamdani replied as the moderator asked, “As a Jewish state?”
“As a state with equal rights,” insisted Mamdani.
“He won’t say it has a right to exist as a Jewish state, be very clear on that,” jumped in another of the 9 candidates on stage.
“Because his answer was no, he won’t visit Israel,” shot back Cuomo.
“I said that directly,” Mamdani replied, as another candidate insisted, “That’s what he was trying to say.”
As the candidates spoke over each other, Mamdani hit back at Cuomo, “No, no, no. Unlike you, I answered the question very directly.”
“I believe every state should be a state of equal rights,” Mamdani concluded amid the cross-talk.
Watch the clip above.
