Consul General Ofir Akunis responded Thursday to a tweet by New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani regarding Tisha B'Av, saying he is glad Mamdani is finally acknowledging the Jewish people's history in their ancient homeland, Israel, which dates back more than 2,000 years. 'It's time to understand that Israel is the home of the Jewish people,' Akunis said, according to Israel Hayom.
Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, on Thursday responded to a tweet by New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani regarding the Jewish fast day of Tisha B'Av. According to Israel Hayom, Akunis wrote that he is glad to see Mamdani finally acknowledging the Jewish people's history in their ancient homeland, dating back more than 2,000 years, and that "it's time to understand that Israel is the home of the Jewish people."
Akunis has been a prominent voice in New York politics, often responding to Mamdani's statements critical of Israel. Since June, Akunis has warned that Mamdani's incitement against Israel could lead to violent acts against Jews. The exchange Thursday appears to stem from Mamdani's own post marking Tisha B'Av, which highlights Jewish history without recognizing Israeli sovereignty, according to local reports.
The response is one of several recent exchanges between Akunis and Mamdani, as Akunis continues to confront anti-Israel narratives among New York elected officials and candidates. The fast day, which mourns the destruction of the Temple, is often a flashpoint in political discourse over Jewish ties to the land of Israel.
- DevelopingIsrael's NYC consul general warns Mamdani's incitement 'will end in very bad, violent acts'
- DevelopingAkunis labels Mamdani 'antisemite' spreading 'false blood libels' against Israel
- StrongIsrael's NYC consul general warns of 'immediate and real danger' to Jews from Mamdani
- DevelopingMamdani issues conciliatory Tisha B'Av message to Jewish community
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