© SOPA Images / Jimin Kim / Sipa USA + © Peter Carr / The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(New York, NY) – Andrew Cuomo spoke with the New York Times this week as the former governor’s campaign for New York City mayor lags in the polls. Cuomo — a longtime supporter of Israel — appears to be trying a different tactic, as the city’s left-leaning electorate has become increasingly enamored with the so-called “Free Palestine” movement.
Although Cuomo avoided an direct criticism of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu — as well as the IDF — he did insist that the situation in Gaza is “horrific” while urging an immediate ceasefire. Cuomo told The Times: “There is no doubt that the people of New York and the nation see the continued carnage that is happening and are deeply, deeply disturbed and want it over, and believe it has gone on way too long.”
It’s a notable shift from Cuomo, who just 12-months ago had volunteers to defend Netanyahu before the International Criminal Court. Cuomo says of the war between Israel and Hamas: “It should end today. Return the hostages, end the violence. Today. I think it should have been over months ago. It is horrific.”
This also bring Cuomo more in line with Zohran Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman, who won the Democratic party’s nomination this summer — defeating Cuomo in the process. Mamdani has consistently criticized Israel, and it’s leaders, during the two-year-long conflict in Gaza. He’s even refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada.”
Polling organized by the New York Times and Siena College suggests New Yorkers are less likely to sympathize with Israel during the war — showing a stronger tendency to back the Palestinian cause. It seems Cuomo got the memo and decided to alter his public position.
