It took no time at all! Within hours of being sworn in (on the Qur’an) as New York City’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani revoked nine executive orders put in place since 2024 by his predecessor Eric Adams. This includes order 51, established to combat antisemitism. Mr. Mamdani is claiming that he made that move because New Yorkers had lost confidence in Mayor Adams after he was indicted, and that it has nothing to do with antisemitism. I am far from convinced! Mr. Mamdani is the poster boy for the Red/Green Axis, and he is already showing his true colors.

Our first concern should be the fact that he was sworn in on the Qur’an. No US public official should be allowed to be sworn in using the Qur’an. No, I am not a racist, because Islam is not a race but an ideology. This being said, I oppose many of the teachings of the Qur’an, as they pertain to the killing of those who do not adhere to Islam. Surah 9:5 is one example of over 100 verses about killing non-Muslims, “But once the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists ˹who violated their treaties˺ wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them on every way. But if they repent, perform prayers, and pay alms-tax, then set them free…” Many more violent verses can be found in the Qur’an. What message is Mamdani sending by being sworn in on the Qur’an?

Islam’s expert Robert Spencer further explains: “The Qur’an directs Muslims to “kill them wherever you find them” (2:191 and 4:89), and to “kill the idolaters wherever you find them.” (9:5) It quotes Allah saying “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve” (8:12) and tells Muslims to “make ready for them all that you can of force and of warhorses, so that by them you may strike terror in the enemy of Allah and your enemy.” (8:60) It tells Muslims to fight non-Muslims until “persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah.” (8:39)”

Beyond using the Qur’an for his inauguration, Mr. Mamdani chose to revoke several executive orders from Mayor Adams. This is very bad news for New York Jews. He decided to no longer accept the 2016 IHRA definition of antisemitism known as follows: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” While I believe that the definition could be refined further, it is a decent “working” definition. To date, the definition has been accepted by over half of all US states, more than 30 countries and hundreds of organizations and schools.

Mr. Mamdani’s move to no longer uphold that definition is very concerning, especially as he revoked it and gave no explanation for the decision. It implies that he supports what the definition aims to expose and oppose, such as:

• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.
• Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.
• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
• Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.
• Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.

William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, expressed his concern about the move stating that the repealing “is a troubling indicator of the direction in which [Mamdani] is leading the city, just one day at the helm.”

Is Mamdani specifically targeting Jews in New York? This might be too strong a statement, but we can see that he is setting the stage for Jews to be targeted more openly in the very near future. Let’s not forget that he has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist. The Consul General of Israel in New York, Ambassador Ofir Akunis clearly stated, “The decisions to revoke the IHRA definition of antisemitism and to allow for boycotts against Israel are actions that pose an immediate threat to the safety of Jewish communities in New York City and could lead to an increase in violent antisemitic attacks throughout the city.”

In what appears as a move in the right direction, Mr. Mamdani did not close the Office to Combat Antisemitism that his predecessor Eric Adams established in May 2025. But is keeping that office open just a facade to fool people into thinking that he cares about protecting the Jewish community. Just keep an eye on how he will most likely reorganize the structure of that task force and replace the people running that office with his own antisemitic team. It is just a matter of time.

We need to realize that this all happened within the first hours of Mr. Mamdani being in office. This was not a knee jerk reaction but a well-planned decision. As a matter of fact, Mr Mamdani had a list of decisions he would make if he was elected. That list from the Democratic Socialists of America was leaked just days before he won the elections. In that memo, many demands were listed that have a direct effect on the Jewish people and Israel. Nine of the twelve points are a direct hit on Jews:

• Divest City pension funds from Israeli bonds and securities
• Withdraw City funds from banks that lend money to Israel or do business in Israel
• End City contracts with companies that do business with Israel
• Operate City-run grocery stores free from Israeli products
• Investigate real estate agents hosting illegal sales of stolen lands in the West Bank
• Remove non-profit status from charities that raise funds for IDF
• Divest CUNY endowment and reinstate wrongly fired professors
• End NYPD training with IOF
• Arrest Netanyahu and active IDF soldiers for war crimes

Mr. Mamdani promised to make public transportation free for all in New York and within a week, MTA fares were raised to $3. Promises made and promises broken within days. Mamdani’s hypocrisy is not going unnoticed, since just weeks after he vowed to arrest Benyamin Netanyahu if he ever steps foot into New York, he rebuked President Trump for the Venezuela operation. His response was “Unilaterally attacking a sovereign nation is an act of war and a violation of federal and international law. This blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad; it directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. Shame on you Mr. Mamdani.

The new Muslim/Marxist mayor of New York will continue to break his promises in the coming weeks, because Socialism, Communism and Marxism never worked, period! Ask the people of Venezuela about it The only promises we can count on him to keep are those that have to do with putting the New York Jewish community at risk. The handwriting is on the wall…In neon lights. Pay attention please!

Olivier Melnick is an author, speaker, antisemitism expert, the Executive Director for Shalom in Messiah Ministries, and a Contributor to Harbinger’s Daily.