I'm a Zionist Jew from New York; I Had to Vote Mamdani
The decision was painful and took weeks of consideration. As a New Yorker and lifelong Zionist, I grappled with the question: who would best lead our city in these challenging times?
A pivotal conversation with a respected Israeli family friend, who has lived in New York for 25 years, helped clarify my choice. About Andrew Cuomo, whom I already distrusted for his arrogance, age, and behavior, he remarked:
I'd vote for Bibi, who you know I despise, before I'd vote for Cuomo.
He further explained that many Israelis labeled Mamdani as an antisemite who would doom Jews in America. However, Israelis lacked the context to fully grasp this mayoral race, much like how Americans are often misunderstood when supporting the Palestinian cause.
Americans backing Palestine often do not understand what the phrase “From the river to the Sea” truly signifies. Many have never visited Israel and do not comprehend the proximity of its borders or the ongoing attacks. Nor do they fully realize how Hamas has, for decades, deliberately embedded fighters and weapons in hospitals, schools, and mosques, disregarding civilian safety. Additionally, the Netanyahu government underestimated the scale of the October 7 Hamas attack.
This perspective made me realize the complex realities behind the rhetoric and ultimately influenced my vote.
Author's Summary
This reflection reveals the complexity of choosing leadership amid conflicting narratives and emphasizes the deep contextual misunderstandings surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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