"UJA-Federation of New York said on Tuesday that Mamdani's decision "to share a stage on Staten Island with an individual who publicly called to 'strike, strike Tel Aviv,' and then host an Iftar meal at Gracie Mansion with a man who justified the October 7 atrocities, raises deep concerns in our community.""
"Khalil, a legal permanent resident who was arrested by ICE at Columbia University and detained for months, has said "there's nothing that can justify the killing of civilians" while also saying that Hamas committed the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel because "we had to reach this moment in the Palestinian struggle.""
"Akl, political director of the Muslim American Society of New York, introduced Mamdani last week at a Ramadan event in a Staten Island mosque. Asl is also a member of the hardline anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime. He was captured on video leading the chant "Strike, strike Tel Aviv" in 2024."
Major Jewish organizations have objected to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's recent interactions with pro-Palestinian activists. Mamdani hosted activist Mahmoud Khalil for an iftar dinner and was introduced at a Ramadan event by Abdullah Akl, political director of the Muslim American Society of New York and member of the anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime. Akl previously led chants calling to "strike Tel Aviv." Khalil, a legal permanent resident detained by ICE, has justified Hamas's October 7 attacks as necessary for Palestinian struggle. UJA-Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council expressed concern about these associations, calling on Mamdani to reaffirm his commitment to confronting antisemitism and ensuring safety for all New Yorkers.
Read at Jewish Telegraphic Agency
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