Mamdani: ‘I Support BDS’

GEIST: “To go back to Joe’s previous question, I’ve talked to Jewish New Yorkers who like your message of affordability. They think it’s the right message. But then they go back and they say, ‘Well, he supports BDS. He won’t condemn the language of ‘Globalize the intifada.’ He seemed to play both sides after October 7th in his initial statement.’ They’re deeply worried that you have some animosity for Jewish people and for the state of Israel. How do you respond to that?”
MAMDANI: “Look, I think critiques of the state of Israel are critiques of a government, as opposed to critiques of a people and of a faith. And my job is to represent every single New Yorker, and I will do so no matter their thoughts and opinions on Israel and Palestine, of which millions of New Yorkers have very strong views, and I’m one of them.”
GEIST: “Would BDS be the policy of your administration as mayor?”
MAMDANI: “I’ve said that I would support and have supported nonviolent movements to bring about compliance with international law. And where this mayor has violated and looked to violate that kind of law, I would bring us back into compliance.”
GEIST: “So yes?”
MAMDANI: “No, I’m talking about compliance.”
GEIST: “Okay.”
MAMDANI: “And I’ve said that I support BDS because this is a movement that is looking for that kind of compliance. We haven’t seen it.”