NYC Mayor Mamdani’s Decision To Revoke Executive Orders Related To IHRA And BDS Draws Criticism
Nassau County Executive and Republican candidate for Governor Bruce Blakeman slammed New York City Mayor Mamdani’s decision to repeal an executive order protecting Jewish New Yorkers and recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. Blakeman called the move a “direct betrayal of nearly one million Jewish New Yorkers.”
“Mayor Mamdani wasted no time showing New Yorkers exactly who he is,” Blakeman said. “His very first executive action as mayor was not to address crime, public safety, or quality of life—it was to repeal protections for Jewish people. At a moment of exploding antisemitism, Mamdani sent a message that Jewish concerns are negotiable and Jewish safety is optional. It’s indefensible.”
The repealed executive order, issued by former Mayor Eric Adams, directed city agencies to use the IHRA working definition of antisemitism to identify, respond to, and raise awareness of antisemitic incidents across New York City. The order was widely recognized as a critical tool to ensure that antisemitic hate is taken seriously and addressed consistently, particularly as Jewish New Yorkers face historic levels of harassment, vandalism, threats, and violence across all five boroughs.
“We have kids afraid to wear yarmulkes. We have synagogues needing police protection. We have Jewish New Yorkers wondering whether their city still has their back, and Mayor Mamdani’s answer was to rip away one of the strongest tools the city had to fight antisemitism,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman also sharply criticized Governor Kathy Hochul for her silence and called on her to immediately step in. “Governor Hochul must stop hiding behind political convenience,” Blakeman said. “She has a moral obligation to stand up to Mayor Mamdani and make clear that New York will not tolerate policies that weaken protections for Jewish people. Silence in the face of antisemitism is complicity.”
Blakeman reaffirmed his commitment to standing with the Jewish community and confronting antisemitism wherever it appears.
“There is no ambiguity here,” Blakeman concluded. “You either stand with Jewish New Yorkers, or you side with those who excuse hate. I will never stop fighting antisemitism—and I will never stay silent while leaders in this state dismantle protections for the people who need them most.”
The Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi (RZA) explained in a statement, “The IHRA definition does not silence criticism of Israel or restrict free speech,” said Stephen M. Flatow, President of the Religious Zionists of America. “It simply helps identify when antisemitism is being repackaged as anti-Zionism. Revoking it does not protect Jews—it makes antisemitism easier to deny when it appears in its modern form.”
The IHRA definition—adopted by the U.S. State Department, dozens of democratic governments, and hundreds of universities and municipalities worldwide—explicitly states that criticism of Israel comparable to that leveled against any other country is not antisemitic. It does not ban protest, mandate disciplinary action, or regulate speech. Rather, it provides guidance to law enforcement, civil-rights agencies, educators, and policymakers in identifying antisemitic conduct, rhetoric, and discrimination.
By revoking IHRA without proposing a clearer or stronger alternative, the mayor has removed a widely accepted framework while offering nothing in its place. The result is confusion for institutions, diminished accountability for offenders, and increased risk for Jewish New Yorkers already facing heightened harassment and threats.
This decision follows a troubling pattern of political signaling toward ideological activists who reject Jewish national self-determination and routinely dismiss antisemitism when it’s expressed through anti-Israel rhetoric. Such posturing does nothing to combat hatred and instead sends the message that Jewish concerns are negotiable.
Local Support For Operation Absolute Resolve
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Republican candidate for Governor of New York, commented, “This mission was aimed at toppling Nicolás Maduro, a man U.S. authorities have accused of running a drug-trafficking regime that has flooded American cities—including New York—with lethal narcotics. Those drugs are killing our children and tearing families apart, and Kathy Hochul is more outraged by action against Maduro than by the carnage on our streets.”
Blakeman pointed to a growing body of federal indictments and law-enforcement actions tying Venezuelan criminal networks to drug trafficking, gang violence, and organized crime activity in New York:
Federal prosecutors charged dozens of members and associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua with racketeering offenses including narcotics distribution, robbery, weapons offenses, and conspiracy, including the sale of the synthetic drug commonly known as “tusi,” which has been linked to addiction and violence in New York communities.
Law enforcement dismantled Venezuelan-linked crews involved in illegal firearms trafficking and drug distribution, with activity centered in Manhattan and the Bronx, underscoring the transnational nature of these criminal enterprises.
NYPD and federal officials have warned about Venezuelan gang recruitment into moped robbery rings, violent street crime, and drug distribution, particularly involving migrants exploited by organized criminal groups.
Federal prosecutors convicted Venezuelan national Carlos Orense Azocar for conspiring to import massive quantities of cocaine into the United States, protected by military-grade weapons—a stark example of the drug pipelines feeding U.S. markets, including New York.
A former Venezuelan general admitted to participating in large-scale cocaine trafficking conspiracies tied to terrorist organizations, reinforcing U.S. government findings that elements of the Maduro regime function as a narco-state.
Blakeman also cited repeated cases in New York where foreign nationals, including Venezuelans arrested on drug, gang, and violent charges, were released pending trial under cashless bail, often over the objections of prosecutors—a policy framework he says emboldens criminal networks.
“These are not isolated incidents—they are a pattern,” Blakeman said. “Venezuelan drug rings push poison north, and New York’s broken bail system makes it easier for criminals to stay on our streets. That deadly combination exists because of failed leadership.”
“Kathy Hochul wants to lecture America about ‘abuse of power,’” Blakeman added. “The real abuse is forcing parents to bury their kids because fentanyl and other drugs poured into our state while politicians looked the other way.”
Blakeman contrasted Hochul’s record with his own leadership in Nassau County. “In Nassau County, we back law enforcement and put public safety first,” Blakeman said. “As Governor, I will fix bail reform, dismantle criminal gangs, confront international drug traffickers, and make it clear that New York will no longer be a dumping ground for the consequences of failed foreign and domestic policy.”
“Standing up to a drug trafficker masquerading as a president is not an abuse of power,” Blakeman concluded. “Abandoning New York families to addiction, violence, and death—that is.”
Village of Lawrence Mayor Samuel Nahmias sent out the following statement: “I write to you today with a profound sense of gratitude and hope for the future. As a community, we have long felt the devastating effects of drug trafficking and the criminal activities that threaten the safety and well-being of our families. It is with this backdrop that I share news of a significant step forward in the battle against the forces that have wreaked havoc on our neighborhoods and far beyond.
“We stand united with all Americans who have felt the deep impact of the international drug trade, particularly the unchecked actions of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and the regime he has led. His government has been responsible for shipping countless tons of illegal drugs into the United States, poisoning communities, and destroying lives without regard for borders or humanity.
“As mayor of the Village of Lawrence, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the President of the United States and to our federal government for their leadership and decisive action in confronting this threat. No community within our Five Towns has been spared from the unimaginable toll of drugs and the way they infiltrate our neighborhoods, families, and schools. We have witnessed firsthand how this crisis has burdened our community, and today we recognize a meaningful step toward reducing this cancer that has plagued us for far too long.
“This moment also represents something far greater than improved security for our own community. With the fall of this brutal regime, the people of Venezuela can finally look toward a future rooted in freedom and self-determination. After years of oppression, corruption, and suffering, they may now have the opportunity to reclaim democracy and rebuild their nation with dignity and hope.
“On a personal note, as a Latin American Jew who has witnessed the tremendous suffering endured by the Venezuelan people, this moment is especially powerful. It is a remarkable achievement and a reminder that justice, though often delayed, is still possible.
“While there remains much work ahead, today stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when democratic nations stand firm against tyranny and criminality. It reinforces our shared belief that freedom, democracy, and the safety of our communities are worth defending.
“Thank you to the residents of Lawrence for your resilience and unity, and thank you to our government for taking meaningful steps to protect our communities and uphold democratic values at home and abroad.”
Affordable Tuition for 2026: The Resolution Jewish Education Needs This New Year’s
By Sydney Altfield
Every new year brings resolutions, most of them personal. This year, the Jewish community should make a collective effort to finally tackle tuition affordability while a real, unprecedented opportunity is within reach.
Jewish education is more than schooling. At a time of rising antisemitism and growing pressure on Jewish life worldwide, ensuring families can access strong Jewish education is not optional. It is essential.
For the first time, Jewish families are not simply naming the problem or hoping for relief. There is now a concrete policy that can significantly reduce the cost of Jewish education for families nationwide. This year is different, not because the crisis has grown, but because the solution has arrived.
For decades, Jewish parents have done the same calculations year after year. Tuition. Security. Transportation. Kosher food. After school care. The costs add up relentlessly. For many middle-income families, the decision is no longer between one school and another. It is between financial stability and an education that sustains Jewish identity, safety, and continuity.
For years, Teach Coalition, alongside partner advocacy organizations, has worked to improve tuition affordability by leveraging untapped government funding. We helped secure critical funding for school security, STEM education, and educational resources. Those efforts laid essential groundwork. Now, for the first time, a federal policy exists that can meaningfully reduce the cost of Jewish education and transform what affordability means for families in the years ahead.
The policy allows individuals to receive a federal income tax credit of up to $1,700 for donations to approved scholarship organizations. Those funds are then used to help families pay for education expenses, including tuition for nonpublic and religious schools. Families earning up to 300 percent of the area median income are eligible, ensuring relief reaches those most often left out of existing assistance programs.
What makes this year particularly pivotal is a shift in political engagement.
Republican governors have long supported education choice initiatives and are expected to opt in. What is new is growing engagement from Democratic governors. This matters deeply, since many of the largest Jewish communities in the United States live in states led by Democratic administrations.
As the new year begins, some governors are recognizing that opting into the program aligns with their broader priorities. With affordability a top concern nationwide, the program offers a tangible way for families to manage rising costs. It strengthens Jewish and other minority communities, stabilizes schools that provide childcare, mental health services, and security infrastructure, and brings federal resources into states without drawing from state budgets or public school funding.
Still, recognizing the benefits does not automatically lead to action.
Participation is voluntary and state-driven. Funding is federal and donor-based, not state-appropriated. These features make action possible, not inevitable. This opportunity will only be realized if communities speak up clearly and persistently.
Teach Coalition is leading a national effort to ensure this moment does not pass quietly. We are engaging governors and their teams, building coalitions across communities, and coordinating grassroots advocacy. That work depends on families, schools, and community leaders committing to this as a New Year’s resolution for 2026 by signing action alerts, sharing information, encouraging participation, and attending advocacy briefings and community events.
No single policy will eliminate tuition challenges overnight. But progress in Jewish education has always come through sustained engagement. Transportation assistance helped. Meal programs helped. Security funding helped. Each moved forward because communities stayed involved and demanded solutions.
As this new year begins, the Jewish community has a rare chance to turn a shared resolution into meaningful change. Strengthening Jewish education in America strengthens the Jewish future everywhere. The opportunity is real. The timing is right. Now we must choose to act. n
The writer is the CEO of the Teach Coalition.
This article was originally printed in JPost.
Israel’s Ambassador To The Kingdom Of Bahrain Met With Crown Prince & Prime Minister
Israel’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Amb. Sammy Revel met with the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, HRH Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as part of ongoing diplomatic engagement and dialogue between Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The meeting underscored the importance of continued communication and cooperation between the two countries and reflected a shared interest in maintaining open channels at the highest level of leadership.
The discussion also highlighted significant economic opportunities and the potential for expanded collaboration between Israel and Bahrain, including trade, investment, and innovation-driven partnerships. n
Israeli Government Investigation Exposes MSF Links To Hamas And Palestinian Islamic Jihad
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism released the findings of a comprehensive investigation documenting direct and systemic ties between the international humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders, MSF) and designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The facts speak for themselves:
In June 2024, the IDF eliminated Fadi al-Wadiya in the Al-Rimal Al-Shamali neighborhood—a military operative of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and a unique expert in the terror organization’s weapons production infrastructure. He was concurrently employed by MSF as a “humanitarian activist,” ostensibly serving as a physiotherapist.
In September 2024, the IDF eliminated Hamdi Abd al-Aziz al-Shalfouh in Gaza, who was later identified as a senior Hamas terrorist serving as a fighter and sniper operative in the Jabalia Battalion. Concurrently with his terrorist activity, he was employed by MSF.
These are just two examples of the deep involvement of MSF personnel in terrorist organizations operating in Gaza. It seems that MSF should change its name to “Terrorists Without Borders.”
Contrary to claims made by MSF and its supporters, humanitarian assistance in Gaza does not depend on the organization’s presence. Aid continues to flow through legitimate and transparent channels operated by organizations that adhere to international humanitarian law and do not cooperate with terrorist groups.
The measures align with Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, which prioritizes dismantling Hamas’ military and governing capabilities. Allowing organizations with documented links to terrorist activity to operate under humanitarian cover directly undermines these objectives and prolongs the conflict.
According to the Ministry’s report, MSF repeatedly operated in coordination with individuals and entities linked to terrorist groups, providing them with legitimacy, protection, and international credibility under the guise of humanitarian activity. The investigation is based on open-source materials, public statements, documented operational partnerships, and established patterns of conduct.
The findings indicate that MSF did not merely fail to maintain neutrality but actively enabled terrorist-affiliated actors through cooperation with Hamas-linked operatives, dissemination of their narratives, and the amplification of what the Ministry describes as false allegations—including claims of “genocide” and fabricated war crimes—that form part of a broader disinformation campaign against Israel.
The report further demonstrates how MSF’s humanitarian branding has been exploited to shield terror infrastructure, launder extremist narratives, and obscure the embedding of terrorist activity within civilian environments, undermining Israel’s right to defend its citizens.
“The investigation exposes a troubling pattern of an international NGO that abandoned neutrality and became part of a coordinated propaganda and influence operation serving Hamas and allied extremist actors,” said Amichai Chikli, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism. “This is not humanitarian work. It is the weaponization of humanitarian credibility in the service of terror.”The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism will continue to publish verified findings, expose disinformation networks, and hold accountable those who abuse the language of human rights to legitimize violence
