Senator Chuck Schumer stated that individuals who do not believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state may be considered antisemites. This comment was made during a New York Public Library event in May 2025, where he discussed his book, "Antisemitism in America, A Warning." Schumer remarked, "To be anti-Zionist — to not believe the Jewish people should have a state — is in my view a form of antisemitism." He further explained that if one believes every other group should have their own state except for the Jewish people, that perspective is antisemitic.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced criticism for not affirming Israel's existence as a Jewish state during his mayoral campaign. He stated, "I believe Israel has a right to exist and it has a right to exist also with equal rights for all," while also being a critic of Israel and supporting the boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign against the country. Mamdani has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and has called for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes. Netanyahu, in a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, labeled Mamdani an antisemite, claiming he has increased hostility towards Jews in New York. Mamdani has asserted his support for Jewish New Yorkers and his opposition to antisemitism and bigotry.
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has also addressed questions about Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. He stated, "I do not. I just dispute the idea that you should have an ethno-state," and compared this stance to his views on Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In a CNN interview, he emphasized that the existence of Israel is not the primary concern, but rather the implications of U.S. financial support for Israel. El-Sayed remarked, "The question we ought to ask is, 'Does everyone have equal rights to peace, dignity and self-determination?'"
Neither Schumer, Mamdani's office, nor El-Sayed's campaign provided immediate comments on the matter. Additionally, the New York Public Library recently hosted an event featuring author Benjamin Moser, who has made critical remarks about Israel, likening it to a "dog shelter" in his book, "Anti-Zionism, a Jewish History." The NYPL stated that it aims to present diverse viewpoints on contentious issues.