New York City Mayor Eric Adams has mandated that city agencies adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism through an executive order signed at a synagogue ceremony. The policy announcement underscored Adams’ effort to demonstrate strong leadership on combating anti-Jewish hatred while facing intense political pressure from various municipal challenges.
The definition has sparked debate due to controversial examples that critics argue could suppress legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies. These provisions specifically identify questioning Israel’s right to exist and applying different standards to Israel as potentially antisemitic, raising concerns among civil liberties advocates about the potential limitation of free expression.
Adams faces significant challenges as he campaigns while dealing with federal corruption allegations and strong primary opposition from candidates with opposing approaches to Middle East policy. While Andrew Cuomo has positioned himself as a firm supporter of Israeli leadership, Zohran Mamdani has taken progressive positions that include describing Israeli actions as genocidal and promising to arrest Netanyahu if he visits the city.