Mamdani dodges question on whether NYPD will go ahead with training in Israel

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani dodged a question about whether the NYPD will proceed with plans to visit Israel in the fall for training with the Israel Police. Mamdani said he didn't know the City Council's plans, deferring to the speaker. The article notes past NYPD trips to Israel and criticism of Mamdani's anti-Israel remarks, including a 2023 video blaming Israel for police violence. NYPD data shows Jews were 70% of hate crime victims in July.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani sidestepped a question on Wednesday about whether the NYPD would proceed with plans to visit Israel in the fall for training with the Israel Police. When asked, Mamdani said he did not know what the City Council's plans were, describing it as an independent body and deferring to the speaker. Senior NYPD officials have previously traveled to Israel for counterterrorism and antisemitism training. The article notes that last year, video emerged from a 2023 conference where Mamdani blamed Israel for police violence in New York, saying 'when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's been laced by the IDF.' The mayor has repeatedly assailed Israel in recent months as antisemitic hate crimes have climbed. Earlier this week, New York rabbis asked him to tone down his anti-Israel rhetoric. Last month, he was criticized by Jewish groups for inflammatory claims about Israel in a video about not arresting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to NYPD data, Jews were targeted in 70% of all hate crimes in July, and anti-Jewish hate crimes increased 8.5% in 2026, with 205 so far this year compared to 189 last year.