I'm a Zionist Jew from New York; I Had to Vote Mamdani
Making this decision was painful and took weeks of deep reflection. As a lifelong Zionist and New Yorker, I questioned, “Who is the best candidate to lead our city forward in such difficult times?”
What helped me decide was a conversation with a respected Israeli family friend who has lived in New York for 25 years. About Andrew Cuomo, whom I already distrusted as arrogant, aged, 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 labeled Mamdani as an antisemite destined to harm Jews in America, but these critics lacked the necessary context to grasp this mayoral race fully. Similarly, Israelis often accuse Americans of misunderstanding their own Palestinian support.
According to him, Americans backing Palestinians do not grasp the meaning of the phrase “From the river to the Sea” because they have never been to Israel and underestimate the close borders and frequent attacks. They do not fully understand that Hamas has, for decades, deliberately embedded fighters, weapons, and ammunition in hospitals, schools, and mosques, disregarding civilian safety.
He also noted how the Netanyahu government ignored the possibility of a Hamas attack as severe as the one on October 7.
Author’s Summary
This personal account reveals the complexity of the mayoral choice, shaped by deep cultural understanding and the challenges of interpreting Israeli-Palestinian realities from abroad.