Courtesy of JTA. Photo credit: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican speaks during a press conference outside of Columbia University on April 22, 2024 in New York City
(JTA) — Two congressmen, Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York and Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, have slammed Mamdani for opposing a definition of antisemitism published by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.
In June, Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order recognizing the IHRA definition in city agencies. But Mamdani said in a Bloomberg News interview that he would stop using the definition as mayor because it conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
The IHRA definition does not mention Zionism, though it identifies some forms of Israel criticism as antisemitic.
Lawler and Gottheimer, who is Jewish, called Mamdani’s stance on the definition “shameful, dangerous, and completely disgusting” in a joint statement. They added, “Let’s be extremely clear: the BDS movement is antisemitic.” Mamdani told Bloomberg that he continues to “support BDS and nonviolent approaches to address Israeli state violence.”
The House members are pushing in Congress for the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would legally codify the IHRA definition.
A spokesperson for Mamdani said he will “approach antisemitism in line with the Biden Administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism,” which “emphasizes education, community engagement, and accountability to reverse the normalization of antisemitism and promote open dialogue.”
