New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing a wave of criticism after he denounced the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC in harsh terms. Mamdani called the group’s people “monsters” and accused AIPAC of funneling “millions of dollars in dark money” to “turn us against each other,” remarks that triggered sharp backlash from Jewish New Yorkers.
Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan posted on Facebook that Mamdani had “incited hatred against people like me.” He quoted the mayor’s comments about “monsters” and argued that Mamdani was effectively portraying AIPAC as a threat to democracy and as supportive of genocide. Steinmetz said this was “pure incitement” and claimed it could encourage violence, citing Elias Rodriguez, whom he described as the terrorist who killed two employees at the Israeli Embassy in Washington.
Steinmetz added that Mamdani was attacking millions of New Yorkers who support the policies AIPAC promotes. He said the mayor was demonizing them and fueling division in a city already dealing with antisemitism. “You are pouring gasoline on the fire,” Steinmetz wrote, adding, “But you will be responsible for it.”
The Anti-Defamation League also condemned Mamdani’s remarks and urged him to retract them and apologize. Its New York branch said calling Jewish community members who work for causes they support “monsters” using “dark money” was deeply offensive and unacceptable for a mayor who says he represents all New Yorkers. The Simon Wiesenthal Center likewise denounced the comments as horrifying and racist. CEO Jim Berk said the idea that Jewish political participation is inherently suspicious or manipulative is “the same old story, told again in new language.”
