Mamdani says he, like Nelson Mandela, is Israel critic but no antisemite

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently compared himself to Nelson Mandela during a keynote address at a Nelson Mandela Foundation event, asserting that like Mandela, he is a critic of Israel but not an antisemite. Mamdani recounted an interview where Mandela was questioned about alienating the Jewish community due to his solidarity with Palestinians, a question Mamdani stated he has also faced. He emphasized Mandela's refusal to compromise on principles, drawing parallels to the Palestinian struggle for freedom. Mamdani, who has previously stated he would arrest the Israeli prime minister in New York City and whose spokeswoman claimed synagogues violate international law by hosting pro-Israel events, highlighted Jewish opposition to South African apartheid, specifically mentioning Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ).