NY Jewish group claims double standard after Mamdani comments on Gaza flotilla

The head of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, a leading Jewish group in the city, accuses New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of a double standard over Mamdani’s comments on the Gaza flotilla.

Last night, Mamdani condemned Israel for detaining activists on a protest flotilla headed to Gaza, far off the coast, in international waters.

“This is a brazen violation of international law. Those detained must be released,” Mamdani says.

Nearly all of those detained have been released to Greece since Mamdani’s statement; two of the activists are being questioned for suspected illegal and terrorist activity.

Mark Treyger, the head of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, points out that City Hall has not commented on an antisemitic outburst this week at the Park Slope Food Coop, a major institution in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

At a Tuesday meeting focused on the food co-op’s attempted boycott of Israel, an attendee said, “Jewish supremacism is a problem in this country,” prompting applause from dozens of others.

The speaker also compared Israel to Nazi Germany.

“This week, it was reported that Jewish New Yorkers were subjected to vile antisemitism at a prominent Brooklyn institution … conduct that likely violates state and local human rights laws and warrants public attention and a response from your administration,” Treyger says in a response to Mamdani.

“I have not seen a word from City Hall about that incident. Leadership in New York requires the ability to show up consistently for all communities, especially when hate targets them here at home,” Treyger says.

Treyger’s criticism of Mamdani stands out because the JCRC needs to collaborate with City Hall, especially for the city’s annual Israel Day on 5th, the de facto Jewish community annual march in the city. This year’s parade, on Manhattan’s 5th ave., will take place on May 31.

Additionally, Mamdani says that “several New Yorkers” were “unlawfully detained” on the Gaza flotilla. It’s unclear which international law he is referring to.

“My team has been in direct contact with State and Federal partners as we work to confirm the whereabouts and conditions of these New Yorkers,” Mamdani says.

Asked by Politico about the identities of the New Yorkers detained by Israel, a City Hall spokesperson demurs, saying, “Will share more information as it becomes available.”