Israeli minister urges Jews to flee New York after Mamdani win

An Israeli minister has called on Jewish Americans in New York to consider emigrating to Israel following the election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor.

Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for diaspora affairs, described Mamdani’s victory as “a critical turning point for the city of New York” that “shakes the very foundations of the place that offered freedom and opportunity to countless Jewish refugees”.

Chikli - who has previously voiced support for ethnic cleansing and occupation in southern Lebanon and for settlements in Gaza - labelled Mamdani a “Hamas supporter”.

He claimed that the 34-year-old Muslim politician’s views were “not far from those of the jihadist fanatics who, 25 years ago, murdered 3,000 of their own people,” referring to the 9/11 attacks.

“The Jews of New York to seriously consider making their new home in the Land of Israel,” he concluded.

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