Mayor Eric Adams signed a high-profile executive order this week requiring city agencies to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s antisemitism definition. The ceremony at a Manhattan synagogue underscored Adams’ effort to demonstrate leadership on combating anti-Jewish hatred while facing intense scrutiny over his administration’s handling of various crises.
The IHRA definition includes examples that have generated substantial debate among scholars, activists, and policymakers about the appropriate boundaries of antisemitism identification. Particularly contentious are provisions that could classify certain critiques of Israeli state policies as antisemitic, leading to concerns about potential suppression of academic and political discourse about Middle Eastern affairs.
With the Democratic primary approaching rapidly, Adams’ position on this issue may prove crucial given the diverse views of his opponents. Andrew Cuomo has established himself as a steadfast ally of Israeli leadership, while Zohran Mamdani has consistently advocated for Palestinian rights and called for accountability regarding what he terms Israeli war crimes. This policy decision thus serves both as a substantive governance choice and a strategic electoral positioning.
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