New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani described it as “great” on Friday that a June AP survey of 1,022 Jewish Americans shows him with a 44% favorability rating, surpassing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 32%. Mamdani told NY1 his focus remains on ensuring Jewish New Yorkers feel “cherished and celebrated” by the city.
AP Poll Data and Jewish American Sentiment
The AP survey reveals a gap between the mayor’s current favorability and his electoral performance, as Mamdani won only 26% of the Jewish vote in the most recent mayoral election. According to the poll, 39% of respondents view Mamdani unfavorably and 17% had no opinion.
The data also reflects a decline in support for Benjamin Netanyahu, who holds a 32% favorability rating and a 59% unfavorable rating. President Donald Trump ranked lower, with 29% favorability and 70% viewing him negatively.
The survey highlights a divide in views on the conflict in Gaza. While 73% of respondents justified Israel’s initial military response to the October 7 Hamas attack, only 42% support the continuation of military operations. Additionally, 30% believe Israel committed genocide in Gaza, while 49% reject that claim.
Diplomatic Friction and State Department Interventions
Mamdani’s administration has faced two recent interventions by the U.S. State Department to block meetings with figures hostile to Israel. Most recently, City Journal reported that the State Department intervened to cancel a July 7 meeting between City Hall’s international affairs chief, Ana Maria Archila, and Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani. The mayor’s office stated the meeting “did not take place and will not take place” after Archila was reprimanded.
This follows a previous incident where the Trump administration pressured Colombia to cancel a meeting between Mamdani and the country’s outgoing president, who is known for anti-Israel rhetoric. To date, Mamdani and his representatives have not met with any official Israeli representative.
Conflicts Over Israel Policy and the First Lady
Mamdani has faced sustained criticism from Zionist organizations and Jewish leaders. He has refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, boycotted this year’s Israel Day Parade, and backed economic divestment from the country. He also pledged to seek the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu should the prime minister enter New York, citing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
Tensions have extended to the mayor’s wife, Rama Duwaji. The Israeli Consulate in New York accused Duwaji of pushing a “false and dangerous narrative” through her co-hosting of a luxury women’s retreat in Corsica. The consulate objected to promotional materials describing Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a “Palestinian woman who gave birth under occupation,” arguing that Jesus and Mary were Jewish.
Economic Ties and Future Confrontations
Despite political friction, Mamdani appeared this week at the groundbreaking for 2 World Trade Center alongside Tal Kerret, the Israeli-born president of Silverstein Properties. The 55-story tower is expected to be the global headquarters for American Express by 2031. Mamdani noted the project would create over 3,200 construction jobs and inject nearly $6 billion into the city’s economy.
A practical test of the mayor’s policies may occur in September. Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Officials in Netanyahu’s office told ynet that the mayor’s pledge to seek his arrest is a “headache” for the mayor.
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