(The Center Square) — New York business groups have launched a new alliance to “protect” Jewish and Israeli companies amid scrutiny from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration.
The New York-Israel Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday that it has launched a new coalition that will act as a “shield, a facilitator, and a voice for Jewish-owned and Israel-associated independent retailers, startups, and companies in the Big Apple.
“New York should not be jeopardizing jobs nor future job creation based upon economic discrimination,” Mark Jaffe, President & CEO Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and a coalition board member, said in a statement. “Israel is a strong friend and ally of the United States. Against all odds, Israel maintains a dynamic and capitalistic economy that provides billions of dollars and thousands of jobs here in NY.”
The coalition’s announcement didn’t mention Mamdani by name but said the rights of Jewish and Israeli businesses are “being eroded by recent municipal policy changes in New York City as well as antisemitic incidents impacting local businesses and affecting New York’s business climate.”
“The organization contends that specific policies pursued by local leadership will stifle competition and foster a climate where business operators face tangible threats,” they said.
Other members of the coalition include non-profits such as the New York Israel Chamber of Commerce, The Business Council of New York State Inc., The Israel America Chamber of Commerce and over a dozen other organizations, according to the group’s statement.
Mamdani, who was sworn into office last month as the city’s first Muslim mayor, has been admonished by Jewish groups over his alignment with pro-Palestinian groups, criticism of the Israeli government, and his use of the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which has been linked to acts of violence against Jewish people.
On the campaign trail, Mamdani pledged to devote more resources to combat antisemitism in a city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel. But his pledges seemed to have done little to assuage concerns about his new administration.
The New York-based Anti-Defamation League has pointed to Mamdani’s support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel and past rhetoric about Israel. The group has launched a “Mamdani Monitor” to keep a check on his new administration, scrutinize appointees, and review the funding of organizations tied to the Israel-critical administration to gauge hostility to Jewish people.
He faced a firestorm of criticism after using his executive powers — just days after being sworn into office — to revoke a handful of orders put into place by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including one that expanded the definition of antisemitism and another blocking city employees and agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel.
