NYC Ditches Antisemitism Definition, Alarms Israel

New York City has abruptly ended its use of a major international definition of antisemitism and lifted restrictions on boycotting Israel. The changes were enacted on the first day in office for new Mayor Zohran Mamdani. He immediately repealed policies created by his predecessor. The removed definition, from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), is used by the U.S. State Department and many Western allies. It includes examples of antisemitism related to criticism of Israel. City agencies will no longer use this guide. A city ban on doing business with companies that boycott Israel was also canceled. Israeli officials condemned the move. They called it a victory for antisemitic movements and a danger to Jewish people. Mayor Mamdani’s office has not publicly explained the decision. The changes have sparked immediate debate about balancing free speech, foreign policy, and hate crime prevention in the city.