Overview

• On a June 17 podcast, Zohran Mamdani declined to condemn the phrase “Globalize the intifada,” saying he would not ban words even if they carry violent connotations
• He defended his stance by noting that “intifada” means “struggle” and pointing to its use in an Arabic translation by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
• The Holocaust Museum released a rare public statement calling his comparison “outrageous and especially offensive to survivors” and urging all leaders to denounce the slogan
• Jewish lawmakers and community groups, including Reps. Dan Goldman and Ritchie Torres and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, said his position undermines his fitness to lead a city with 1.3 million Jews
• Mamdani responded to the backlash by highlighting anti-Muslim threats he’s received and insisting he opposes antisemitism while still refusing to apologize for his remarks