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How Democrats in America’s most Jewish city embraced a critic of Israel for New York mayor
LA Times ^ | June 29, 2025 | Jill Colvin

Posted on 06/29/2025 6:25:48 PM PDT by DoodleBob

NEW YORK — In choosing Zohran Mamdani as their candidate for mayor, Democrats in America’s most Jewish city have nominated an outspoken critic of Israel, alarming some in New York’s Jewish community and signaling a sea change in the priorities of one of the party’s most loyal voting groups.

The 33-year-old democratic socialist’s surprisingly strong performance against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes clear that taking a stance against Israel is no longer disqualifying in a Democratic primary. The state Assembly member has declined to support the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish state, refused to denounce the term “global intifada” and supports an organized effort to put economic pressure on Israel through boycotts and other tactics. …

Aiyana Leong Knauer, a 35-year-old Brooklyn bartender who is Jewish and backed Mamdani, said …“Many of us take really deep offense to our history being weaponized against us,” she said. “Jewish people all over the world have well-founded fears for their safety, but Jews in New York are safe overall.”

Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, a progressive anti-Zionist group that worked on Mamdani’s behalf, said ….“That is not in spite of his support for Palestinian rights. That is because of his support for Palestinian rights…There has been a massive rupture within the Jewish community, and more and more Jews of all generations, but especially younger generations,” now refuse to be tied to what they see as a rogue government committing atrocities against civilians, she said.

… a slight majority of Americans now express a “somewhat” or “very” unfavorable opinion of Israel, according to a March Pew Research Center poll, compared with 42% in 2022. Democrats’ views are particularly negative, with nearly 70% holding an unfavorable opinion versus less than 40% of Republicans.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: California; US: New York
KEYWORDS: andrewcuomo; california; curtissliwa; davidhogg; jillcolvin; kathyhochul; losangelesslimes; mamdani; zohranmamdani
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1 posted on 06/29/2025 6:25:48 PM PDT by DoodleBob
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To: DoodleBob

Just because you’re Jewish, it doesn’t mean you’re intelligent as it comes to Judaism and Israel. Lots of Jews are Jewish in name only.


2 posted on 06/29/2025 6:27:32 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: DoodleBob

Any Jew supporting a radical Muslim mayor should have their head examined... He hates you and he always will hate you.


3 posted on 06/29/2025 6:30:18 PM PDT by jerod (Nazis were essentially Socialist in Hugo Boss uniforms... Get over it!)
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To: SkyDancer
The left is a suicide cult.

The Jewish left is a suicide cult in a bug hurry.

4 posted on 06/29/2025 6:30:47 PM PDT by Salman (It's not a slippery slope if it was part of the program all along.)
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To: All

This whole thing smells of massive voter fraud. Something isn’t right here (as it rarely is in NY, CA, etc.).


5 posted on 06/29/2025 6:34:43 PM PDT by FLNittany
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To: SkyDancer

Every religion—except, apparently, Islam—has a sizeable contingent of “cultural” casual observers who show up at major holy days but otherwise are “in name only”.


6 posted on 06/29/2025 6:35:02 PM PDT by lightman (Beat the Philly fraud machine the Amish did onest, ja? Nein, zweimal they did already!)
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To: Salman; SkyDancer; jerod

What is telling, is how one one hand…

Aiyana Leong Knauer, a 35-year-old Brooklyn bartender who is Jewish said “New Yorkers, many of them Jewish, saying we care more about having an affordable city than sowing division.”

….buuuut on the other hand, Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, a progressive anti-Zionist group that worked on Mamdani’s behalf, said “That is not in spite of his support for Palestinian rights. That is because of his support for Palestinian rights,”

So…what is it? Are voters focused on domestic issues or wars overseas that have nothing to do with them?


7 posted on 06/29/2025 6:39:52 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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To: jerod

Maybe they hate you


8 posted on 06/29/2025 6:44:30 PM PDT by conserv8 (Beware the Frankenbook)
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To: DoodleBob

Well I’m Jewish, born in Brooklyn, NYC and our family escaped from there when I was seven. We’re all Messianic Jews.


9 posted on 06/29/2025 6:48:04 PM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: SkyDancer
My personal observation (not Jewish, but with many close Jewish friends growing up) is that many Jews are very concerned with being seen as "open-minded," and "tolerant."

There are multiple reasons for this, but they all result in the sort of decision-making as is seen in this case.

10 posted on 06/29/2025 6:56:10 PM PDT by Steely Tom ([Voter Fraud] == [Civil War])
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To: SkyDancer
When Ilhan Omar first ran for US Congress, she went before the Jewish people of St. Louis Park, MN and vowed to be objective and open minded when voting. She vowed that she would not be hostile to the Jews.

Of course, the democrats believed her, and here we are. With an antisemitic representative. We all know that New Yorkers are smarter than Minnesotans, so PLEASE New York don't believe that wolf in sheep's clothing.

11 posted on 06/29/2025 6:58:29 PM PDT by BarbM (Men who look at porn are impotent for God.)
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To: SkyDancer

My beloved Catholic grandmother lived in Btooklyn for several years until she moved to New Orlelans. When I was 5 and 6, I went to ssee her in both places. That was a long tme ago and Brooklyn was a nice enough place to live.


12 posted on 06/29/2025 6:59:22 PM PDT by Veto! (Trump Is Superman)
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To: BarbM

“”””When Ilhan Omar first ran for US Congress, she went before the Jewish people of St. Louis Park, MN and vowed to be objective and open minded when voting. She vowed that she would not be hostile to the Jews.”””

I can see St Louis Park from my porch. We always called it St JEWISH Park because of the heavy Jewish population. It was always a very well run and kept little city. A few years ago they elected a young Somali muslim mayor.


13 posted on 06/29/2025 7:02:20 PM PDT by shelterguy
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To: DoodleBob

Pay no attention to the Slime behind the curtain. The LA Slime is owned by a Billionaire leftist who made his money here, yet tries to destroy the very same country.
Patrick Soon-Shiong. Look this POS up. Money changes everyone, most billionaires become leftists, never understood why.


14 posted on 06/29/2025 7:02:43 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: DoodleBob

I’ve heard most are ethnic Jews, but not religious practicing Jews.

They tend to be secular, and that’s why.


15 posted on 06/29/2025 7:20:29 PM PDT by Enlightened1
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To: DoodleBob

Didn’t I read that there was only a 30% turnout? How can anything conclusion or trend be read from 30%? What is the normal turnout in NYC for a primary?


16 posted on 06/29/2025 7:23:13 PM PDT by grame (May you know more of the love of God Almighty this day!)
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To: DoodleBob
The 33-year-old democratic socialist’s surprisingly strong performance against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes clear that taking a stance against Israel is no longer disqualifying in a Democratic primary.

Major understatement...

17 posted on 06/29/2025 7:26:13 PM PDT by GOPJ (Post pictures of democrat politicians and labeling them 'ICE OFFICERS'. Prank on a-holes...)
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To: SkyDancer

Which way to the rail cars ?


18 posted on 06/29/2025 7:29:59 PM PDT by A strike (Make RealID required for voting )
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To: Fungi

la Times


19 posted on 06/29/2025 7:30:53 PM PDT by A strike (Make RealID required for voting )
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To: Enlightened1; SkyDancer

It is a little perplexing.

Let’s say I’m an American and my ancestors came from England.

Maybe I’m rooting for England in the World Cup, I love Monty Python, and have integrated Britain slang into my lexicon. I’d say something nice about the cuisine if it didn’t suck.

But if England has some crisis, or if Harry and Meaghan make the news, or if the Mayor of London is a loser, I could give a rip…I’m an American.


20 posted on 06/29/2025 7:34:29 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s²)
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