New business coalition to back Israeli companies in NY, amid concerns over Mamdani

NEW YORK — Business groups in New York on Monday announced a new coalition to protect Israeli and Jewish businesses, amid concerns in the community over the administration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The New York-Israel Chamber of Commerce Coalition aims to “protect the right to create, sustain and grow” businesses that were founded in Israel, have Israeli or Jewish owners, or are otherwise affiliated with Israel.

“These rights are being eroded by recent municipal policy changes in New York City as well as antisemitic incidents impacting local businesses and affecting New York’s business climate,” the group said in a statement that did not name Mamdani directly.

Mamdani, who took office last month, is a longtime supporter of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel, although he has not announced any boycott policies as mayor.

On his first day in office, Mamdani revoked the city’s use of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which covers some forms of anti-Israel rhetoric, and revoked an order that opposed the anti-Israel boycott campaign.

Mamdani’s predecessor, Eric Adams, established the New York City-Israel Economic Council, a unit in the mayor’s office, to build business ties between the city and the Jewish state by connecting Israeli business leaders with city officials. The council has not been active since Mamdani took office.

The New York-Israel Chamber of Commerce Coalition, a nonprofit, said its members include the New York-Israel Chamber of Commerce, the Business Council of New York State, Inc., the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and the Israel America Chamber of Commerce.

A spokesperson for the group said it was hearing from other associations in New York State and in other states, and some business leaders, who were interested in joining.

The coalition said its goals include strengthening security for businesses by implementing policies that will “protect Israelis from antisemitic business practices and other direct or implied threats”; promoting regulations that will allow Israeli companies “to invest, hire, and grow on a level playing field”; and providing resources for Israeli tech.

“The free enterprise system that made New York City strong and encouraged many Israeli founders to select New York City for US operations is at risk,” Al Kinel, the coalition’s president, said in a statement. “Beyond the economic damage, we are deeply alarmed by the correlation between these policies and the rise in unsafe conditions for our employees and customers.”

The group said its mandate covers New York State and New York City, but the vast majority of Israeli businesses in the state are based in the city.

Israeli businesses in the city have been targeted by vandalism, social media protest campaigns and employee demands that they disassociate from Israel. Jews are targeted in hate crimes in the city far more than any other group.

New York is one of the main destinations for Israeli companies seeking to expand abroad, beyond Israel’s small domestic market.

A report late last year said that nearly 600 Israeli-founded companies have created more than 27,000 jobs in New York City, adding an estimated $12.4 billion in value to the city’s economy in 2024.

One of the hostile climate’s recent casualties, Reunion, a popular Israeli restaurant in Brooklyn, said on Monday that it will shut down this week.

Reunion has operated for nearly 12 years in the Williamsburg neighborhood.

The restaurant cited business challenges and a difficult environment for Israeli companies.

“Over the past few years, running an independent restaurant has become increasingly challenging,” the restaurant owners said in a statement. “Rising food and operating costs, along with the realities of being an Israeli restaurant during a very difficult time, have made it impossible for us to continue in a sustainable way.”

Reunion’s last day of operation will be on Sunday, the statement said.