Ofir Akunis, Israeli consul general in New York, said on Friday - the day after a visibly Jewish man and another man were stabbed outside a Manhattan synagogue on Tisha B'Av - that he had previously warned about the consequences of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's actions.
The mayor's spokeswoman stated that synagogues violate international law by hosting pro-Israel events. During his campaign, Mamdani said he would have the Israeli prime minister arrested in New York City. Benjamin Netanyahu is expected in Manhattan in September for the United Nations General Assembly. Mamdani recently released a video acknowledging he lacks the authority to arrest the Israeli premier but called him a "war criminal" And said federal authorities should detain him.
"Mayor Mamdani is inciting violence against Jews in New York," Akunis said. "I warned about the consequences of his actions on his first day in office after he signed the order abolishing the IHRA definition of antisemitism. Yesterday was just another example of his hateful rhetoric fueling physical attacks."
Akunis added: "This pattern is too familiar and echoes Europe 100 years ago. Incitement always promotes and encourages physical violence."
Anti-Jewish hate crimes have surged this year, with a 182% increase recorded during Mamdani's first month in office.