'First time a declared BDS supporter occupies City Hall,’ Arab media on NYC mayoral race
Al Jazeera Arabic called the 33-year-old state assemblyman “the first Muslim candidate to capture a city-wide primary in America’s largest Jewish population centre."
ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
JUNE 25, 2025 16:57
From Doha to Beirut, leading Arabic-language outlets have celebrated Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary as proof that public support for the Palestinian cause is reshaping US politics—and eroding what they describe as the “pro-Israel establishment.”
In its straight-news lead, Al Jazeera Arabic called the 33-year-old state assemblyman “the first Muslim candidate to capture a city-wide primary in America’s largest Jewish population centre,” and highlighted his tweet accusing Israel of “committing genocide” in Gaza. The network told readers that Mamdani’s win “strikes fear in the pro-Israel establishment, according to Haaretz,” framing the result as a marker of dwindling Democratic consensus on Israel.
Dubai-based Asharq News splashed the headline “Supports the Palestinian cause…Mamdani clinches Democratic nod,” describing him as an “Indian-American who backs the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.” The four-minute read reminded audiences that a Mamdani administration could become “the first time a declared BDS supporter occupies City Hall in New York,” a prospect it said would “embarrass” the outgoing pro-Israel mayor Eric Adams.
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-858992