NY mayoral candidate Cuomo urges Democratic nominee Mamdani to reject 'Globalize the Intifada' slogan

New York mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo on Sunday called on Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani to publicly denounce the “Globalize the Intifada” slogan, as anti-Israel rallies are set to take place on the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack in southern Israel.

”Zohran Mamdani continues to play word games instead of showing moral clarity,” Cuomo said in an official statement. “Today I again call on him – directly and unequivocally – to denounce this phrase and to reject any movement that glorifies violence or targets Jewish people.” Mamdani's campaign team has so far refrained from responding to Cuomo’s public statement.

The Cuomo campaign specifically mentioned an anti-Israel group that is reportedly preparing a “No Business as Usual” rally for Oct. 7 with the message to “Escalate for Gaza.”

“Behind Enemy Lines is calling on everyone to escalate for Gaza and shut down business as usual,” the group wrote on its website.

Cuomo is trying to secure votes from the local Jewish community, calling on the NYPD to “increase security around synagogues, Jewish schools, community centers, and other locations identified as ‘targets’ by these organizers.”

Mamdani, who seeks to become New York’s first Muslim mayor, defines himself as an “anti-Zionist” and has displayed hostility towards Israel since Oct. 7, 2023. He has publicly accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza, even before Israel launched its ground operations

“I will always be clear in my language and based in facts: Israel is committing a genocide,” Mamdani wrote on 𝕏.

In addition, Mamdani has vowed to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York City during his tenure as mayor; however, legal experts have noted that a mayor does not have the authority to arrest foreign dignitaries.

The “Globalize the Intifada” slogan has been popular among radical anti-Israel activists who call for violence against Jews and any political opponents. Intifada is an Arabic term meaning “uprising” and is commonly associated with periods of violent conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.

Mamdani eventually acknowledged that the expression “meant something different to the Jewish community and in July, he consequently vowed to “discourage” the calls. However, in an interview with The Bulwark, he claimed that the expression did not necessarily mean violence against Jews.

“Ultimately, what I hear in so many [cases] is a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights,” Mamdani argued.

According to recent polls, Mamdani is the frontrunner in the New York mayoral election, to be held in November. Cuomo is in second place, whereas incumbent NYC Mayor Eric Adams is in third place.

Unlike Mamdani, Adams has positioned himself as a staunch supporter of the Jewish state. During his address at the United Nations last month, Adams thanked Netanyahu for defending the West.

“I was particularly proud to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after his address to the United Nations, to thank him for defending the Western world and our way of life,” Adams stated. “Prime Minister Netanyahu laid out a clear case that those who call for the death of Jews across the globe are also calling for the death of Americans.”

At the same time, Cuomo has tried to balance traditional American support for Israel with growing anti-Israel sentiments among younger population segments by positioning himself politically between Adams and Mamdani.