New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who earlier this week called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal in a viral video, issued a Tisha B'Av greeting to Jews in New York, wishing them a 'quiet and peaceful' fast. The statement, posted Thursday evening, comes amid ongoing controversy over Mamdani's stance on Israel.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a Tisha B'Av greeting to Jewish New Yorkers on Thursday evening, wishing them a 'quiet and peaceful' fast. The statement comes after a viral video in which Mamdani referred to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'war criminal,' and after he reportedly attempted to arrest Netanyahu during his visit to New York.
The greeting, posted on social media, was addressed to Jews in all five boroughs: 'Wishing a quiet and peaceful Tisha B'Av fast to the Jews of New York in all five boroughs. From sunset tonight until tomorrow, the mourners and those mourning will pause for a moment and reflect on the history and resilience of the Jewish people.'
Earlier Thursday, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) publicly backed Mamdani's call to arrest Netanyahu, as reported by The Zioneer. The mayor's actions have drawn criticism from Israeli officials and Jewish groups, who accuse him of politicizing a solemn day of mourning. The Zioneer previously criticized Mamdani's earlier Tisha B'Av greeting for ignoring Jewish ties to Jerusalem.
The Tisha B'Av fast, which begins Thursday evening, commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. Mamdani's statement avoided any mention of Jerusalem or the Temple, focusing instead on the resilience of the Jewish people.
2 developments
- DevelopingThe Zioneer criticizes New York mayor for Tisha B'Av message that ignores Jewish ties to Jerusalem
- StrongNYC Mayor Mamdani invokes Shiite Ashura in call for justice, praises diversity
- StrongNYC Mayor Mamdani: Netanyahu is a 'war criminal,' should be in The Hague — but no new laws
- DevelopingIsrael's NYC Consul General Akunis responds to Mamdani's Tisha B'Av tweet: 'Glad you finally admit Jewish history in Israel'
Source and signal
- Internal intake