Shira Li Bartov | JTA
The subject of Israel has repeatedly encroached on New York City’s mayoral race. Now, the country’s prime minister is also weighing in, according to JTA.
Benjamin Netanyahu attacked the Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani in an appearance on the “Full Send Podcast” with the Nelk Boys published on July 21. The Canadian-American influencer group is known for their viral pranks as well as their promotion of right-wing figures and causes, winning them a large following of young conservative men.
After drawing criticism for hosting Netanyahu, the Nelk Boys — who visited Israel in 2023 — invited a host of streamers with records of antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric to join them online.
Their discussion with Netanyahu covered his affinity for Donald Trump, Israel’s two-year war against Hamas in Gaza and antisemitism in the United States. It was conducted by two leading members of the group, Kyle Forgeard and Aaron Steinberg, who has said his grandparents were Holocaust survivors.
They also discussed New York City’s mayor’s race, where the front-runner, Mamdani, has faced allegations of antisemitism for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” and supporting a boycott of Israel.
Steinberg asked Netanyahu how an “antisemitic guy,” referring to Mamdani, was able to capture an upset win in New York’s Democratic primary.
Netanyahu responded, “A lot of people have been taken in by this nonsense,” claiming that voters were seduced by Mamdani’s efforts to “defund the police.” (Although Mamdani supported police budget cuts during his 2020 campaign for state assembly, his mayoral campaign has not proposed defunding, but rather shifting police resources toward major crimes and keeping the force at the same headcount.)
Netanyahu also slammed Mamdani’s plan to tax the wealthiest New Yorkers, saying he would “crush all enterprise” and “tax people to death.”
“Sometimes you have to get mugged by reality to understand how stupid that is,” he said.
