Zohran Mamdani has been urged by hundreds of rabbis to apologize for his AIPAC comments
Zohran Mamdani defends AIPAC’s ‘monster’ rhetoric amid heavy criticism
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is clarifying his controversial “monster” rhetoric about AIPAC, saying it refers to those who block the “new world.” This defense drew strong criticism from Congressman Josh Gottheimer, who called it “blasphemous anti-Semitism.” Rabbi Yaacov Behrman also criticized Mamdani’s comments, saying they were promoting violence.
NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing a call from more than 700 rabbis to apologize for his recent speech disparaging the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The rabbis argued that the mayor’s comments amounted to an act of “dehumanization” that endangered American Jews and their allies.
During a June 18 rally before the primaries in New York City, Mamdani called AIPAC “monsters” who use “millions of dark money to achieve one goal – to preserve their power, to turn us against each other.”
These words caused an uproar as a letter signed by hundreds of rabbis expressed concern that Mamdani’s speech may contribute to the increase of discrimination against people.
JOSH SHAPIRO WARNS AIPAC ATTACKS USED ‘TO SILENCE OTHER VOTERS’
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a viewing party for NYC Congressional candidate Claire Valdez at 99 Scott Studio on June 23, 2026 in the East Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The letter revealed that the rabbis who signed it represent congregations with different views on Israel, American politics and the war in Gaza. It said, “By describing public participation in support of Israel as an evil, conspiratorial and anti-democratic act, Mr. Mamdani has put a target on the backs of American Jews and their supporters.”
“Mr. Mamdani’s words are important because they are spoken by the leader of a city with many Jews outside of Israel. They are important because racism is increasing in America,” the book reads.
The letter called these comments “below the office he holds.” Signatories included dozens of New York City rabbis but hundreds more across the country.
Mamdani defended his words on Monday when answering questions after signing the executive order. In response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, Mamdani’s team pointed to that statement.
“We are talking about the current situation where children are killed every day,” Mamdani said in response to a journalist’s question about criticism of his words.
“And when I talk about AIPAC, I’m talking about an organization that has supported the status quo, that has fought any attempt to bring security to the people not only in Palestine, but frankly, through a large part of the region. And it’s a status quo of bad behavior. It’s one that I will not accept,” he added.
Jewish leaders expressed concern over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s speech about AIPAC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
‘ZOHRAN’S PARTY’: MAMDANI EMERGES AS DEMOCRATIC KING AFTER SOCIAL EQUALS RUN IN NYC PRIMARY
At the same event, Mamdani was asked how he used the word “monsters” and said he was quoting the philosopher Antonio Gramsci.
“I used this term to describe all those who are preventing the birth of a new world. Not only AIPAC, but frankly, super PACs in general spend millions of dollars on deceptive and misleading ads covering the airwaves,” he said.
In response to a question from Fox News Digital about critics’ concerns about anti-Semitism, Mamdani’s office shared a statement about the event in May.
“The Jews of New York worked to plant a city that is safe and open to everyone,” Mamdani said at the time. “You should be given the same security and the same peace of mind.”
He added that the city will invest $26 million annually to increase hate crime prevention efforts, stressing that responding to arrests is not enough and that prevention is key.
Rabbis warn that NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s speech is “dangerous” as antisemitism grows across the country. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
MAMDANI-BACKED ‘LIBERAL ZIONIST’ OUSTS DEM WHO DID TRUMP IN NYC HOUSE RUN
Mamdani’s speech on AIPAC also drew criticism from senior Jewish leaders outside the group of rabbis who signed the letter.
“Replace ‘AIPAC’ with ‘Jews'” is also the oldest antisemitic theory in literature. That is not to criticize the lobby. That is removing antisemitism from your platform as Mayor of a city with over a million Jews. This bull— is dangerous,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, DN.J., wrote in XJ
The head of the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, said Mamdani’s comments amounted to “racism” and were “intentionally, maliciously and defamatory.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE NEWS AND CULTURE
“This is the kind of heavy-handed conspiracy you expect from a conservative or white nationalist audience. It’s not the kind of language we should expect from a mayor whose administration suffers from the highest levels of disbelief in any American city,” Greenblatt wrote.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
The rabbis concluded their letter by asking the mayor to apologize, retract his comments and make it clear that “Jews and Americans who support Israel do not fully participate in our democracy.”
“We can argue about policy. We can argue about money in politics. We can argue with anger about Israel and the Middle East. But no elected leader should demonize Jews or those who stand with the Jewish state. Criticizing Israel’s policy is not antisemitic. Treating millions of Zionist Jews as morally suspect, politically illegitimate or less deserving of equal participation in public life,” the letter reads.
