Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Jan 3: Newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has revoked all executive orders signed by his predecessor Eric Adams after the latter’s indictment on federal corruption charges, including two controversial orders related to Israel and antisemitism.

On his first day in office on January 1, Mamdani ?????ed an order that barred city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel, as well as another that adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The sweeping move nullified all executive orders Adams issued after his indictment in September 2024.

However, Mamdani retained the Office to Combat Antisemitism, which Adams had established in May.

One of the revoked orders had defined antisemitism to include opposition to the existence of the State of Israel, while another prohibited city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israeli bonds and assets, effectively countering the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Adams signed the latter order during his final weeks in office.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist and the first Muslim mayor of New York City, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights and has previously expressed support for the BDS movement. During his campaign, he had pledged to review all executive orders issued by Adams.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from conservatives, Israeli officials and some Jewish groups. Republican New York City Council member Inna Vernikov said the IHRA definition of antisemitism is recognised by over 40 countries, including Germany, the UK, Canada and Australia. “Good enough for Germany, but not good enough for Mamdani,” she said, also warning that revoking protest-related restrictions at places of worship could embolden extremists.

Israel’s foreign ministry strongly rebuked Mamdani, calling the rollback of the orders “antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.” The National Jewish Advocacy Center and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also criticised the move, with the ADL previously flagging antisemitic social media posts by some of Mamdani’s appointees. One senior aide resigned last month following such allegations.

Responding earlier to ADL concerns, Mamdani said it was essential to distinguish between antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government, warning that conflating the two distracts from addressing genuine antisemitism.

Civil liberties groups, however, backed Mamdani’s decision. New York Civil Liberties Union executive director Donna Lieberman said the Adams-era orders adopted an overly broad definition of antisemitism and infringed on First Amendment protections.

Jewish Democratic Council of America executive director Halie Soifer welcomed Mamdani’s decision to retain NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and the antisemitism office, but urged him to take concrete steps to protect Jewish New Yorkers.

During the election campaign, Mamdani took strong positions critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing it of genocide and stating he would honour the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Former US President Donald Trump had warned last year that federal funds for New York could be at risk if Mamdani pursued such policies.

New York City, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, has seen heightened sensitivity around the issue, with Mamdani’s appointments and policy stances continuing to draw intense scrutiny.