New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has introduced the city's inaugural municipal strategy to combat antisemitism. The 33-page document outlines a multi-pronged approach, including greater security measures for synagogues and an increased focus on Jewish history in public school education.
The strategy, announced on Tuesday, does not include any mention of Israel. This omission has drawn criticism, with some Jewish organisations stating that the strategy "fails to address a central issue that the Mayor himself has perpetuated: rhetoric that demonizes and delegitimizes Israel inevitably leads to the targeting of Jewish New Yorkers." Conversely, some on the left have also expressed dissatisfaction with the plan.
The strategy cites extensive polling on how Jewish Americans perceive safety and antisemitism, noting the diverse ways in which these experiences are felt. New York police have reported a "notable increase" in anti-Jewish crimes over the past three years. Mayor Mamdani stated in a video introducing the strategy that antisemitic crimes constitute over half of all hate crimes in the city, despite Jews comprising 12% of the population.
The plan does not endorse a specific definition of antisemitism, instead mentioning three different ones. It notes that New York City can combat antisemitism effectively without adopting a single definition. Rabbi Jill Jacobs, chief executive of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, praised the strategy, stating it "reflects the voices of the hundreds of Jewish New Yorkers consulted throughout the process."