‘Trying to prevent next Mamdani,’ say Israeli vets slated to visit NYC campuses

Frontline Advocates, an Israeli nonprofit, is sending a seven-member delegation of Israeli veterans to New York City from August 23-30 to engage with college students and the public. Co-founder Stav Cohen, an attorney and special-forces reservist, stated the mission is to "prevent the next Mamdani" by sharing personal stories and combating misinformation about Israel. The group plans to hold public debates and create social media content near universities like NYU and Columbia, as well as participate in Jewish communal and church events in the Hamptons. Cohen expressed concerns about security, recalling a past incident at John Jay College where masked protesters attempted to break into a lecture. Delegation members, including Itay Sagi and Yuval Patiev, aim to build bridges and present "the real side of Israel," emphasizing that their fight extends to the future of America and for the next generation, as Cohen noted, "an M16 won't do that... We have to fight with words and by the narrative."