New York City Mayor Eric Adams has mandated that city agencies adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism through an executive order signed at a Manhattan synagogue. The policy announcement highlighted Adams’ effort to demonstrate leadership on combating antisemitism while addressing concerns about normalized hateful rhetoric following recent Middle Eastern conflicts.
The definition has generated controversy due to examples that critics argue could suppress legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies. These provisions specifically identify questioning Israel’s right to exist and applying different standards to Israel as forms of antisemitism, raising concerns among free speech advocates about potential limitations on academic and political discourse.
Adams faces significant challenges as he campaigns for reelection while dealing with federal corruption allegations and strong primary opposition. His opponents present contrasting approaches to Middle East issues: Andrew Cuomo has aligned closely with Israeli leadership, while Zohran Mamdani has taken progressive positions that include calling Israeli actions genocidal and promising to pursue legal accountability for what he describes as war crimes.
