NY Council Member Mamdani Attacked for Post on October 7th
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani faced sharp criticism from journalist Bret Stephens for a post on the anniversary of the October 7th massacre. Stephens accused Mamdani of distorting the victims' memory and highlighted the brutal nature of the Hamas attack. Mamdani's past anti-Israel activism was also cited as context for his controversial statement. Stephens argued that Mamdani's "all lives matter" approach on a day of mourning was inappropriate for the Jewish community.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash for a post on the October 7th massacre anniversary.
- Journalist Bret Stephens accused Mamdani of distorting the victims' memory and highlighted Hamas's brutality.
- Stephens criticized Mamdani's past anti-Israel activism and his "all lives matter" stance.
- The column argued Mamdani's claims are a form of Holocaust denial aimed at delegitimizing Israel.
- Stephens suggested Mamdani should have affirmed "Jewish lives matter" and "Israeli lives matter" on the day of mourning.
New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani has sparked controversy following a post he published on the anniversary of the October 7th massacre. Senior journalist Bret Stephens sharply criticized Mamdani in The New York Times, accusing him of distorting the memory of the victims.
Stephens compared Mamdani's post to a scenario where a mayor would mark the September 11th attacks with a superficial mention of victims, followed by a lengthy critique of US foreign policy. He recalled that Hamas violated the ceasefire in place on October 6th and noted that many of the murdered were prominent peace activists living in kibbutzim. The columnist also highlighted the sadistic cruelty of the terrorists, including sexual violence, beheadings, and the murder of children in their beds.
According to The New York Times, Mamdani's stance is not just a reaction to the current war but a continuation of his past as an anti-Israel zealot. During his college years, Mamdani boycotted moderate Jewish organizations, wrote a rap song supporting those convicted of transferring funds to Hamas, and was quick to condemn Israel on October 8th, even before condemning the terrorist organization.
Stephens's column refutes the accusation of genocide against Israel, labeling it a false and malicious claim intended to erase the horrors of October 7th. He argues this is a sophisticated form of Holocaust denial aimed at stripping the Jewish people of their justification for a sovereign state, while Hamas harbors genuine genocidal intentions toward Israel.
The column concludes with a pointed message to the council member, who represents nearly a million Jewish residents in New York. Stephens contends that on a day of mourning, the Jewish community deserves more than an "all lives matter" approach. He suggested the council member should have simply stated, "Jewish lives matter. Israeli lives matter. Period. Lectures about Gaza can wait for another day."
