3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jun 24, 2026 12:37 AM ISTNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, speaks during a Get Out The Vote rally ahead of New York's primary election in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo)New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticised a pro-Israeli group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and compared it to “monsters” who “move millions in dark money”.The remarks, which the NYC Mayor defended on Monday, drew widespread condemnation from Jewish leaders and advocacy groups, who alleged that Mamdani was repeating anti-Jewish statements that have been getting reiterated by antisemites for centuries, Politico reported.NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls AIPAC a “monster” that “moves dark money.”No mention of Russia or the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan. I guess they aren’t as “bad” as AIPAC is to Mamdani.Insane. pic.twitter.com/nJ0YbhubQa— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) June 19, 2026Critique of regional status quoDuring an address at City Hall on Monday, Mamdani said, “When I am speaking about AIPAC, I’m speaking about an organisation that has been supportive of the status quo, that has fought any attempt to actually deliver safety to people, not just in Palestine, but frankly, through much of the region, and it is a status quo for immorality.”“Monsters.” “Dark money.” A hidden hand “turning us against one another.”Swap “AIPAC” for “Jews” and it’s the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books. That’s not criticizing a lobby. That’s laundering antisemitism from your podium as Mayor of a city with more than a… https://t.co/KOJ2HaImFE— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) June 21, 2026The NYC Mayor highlighted that over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed since a US-brokered ceasefire was signed in October last year to halt the Israeli offensive and Hamas’ retaliation in the region.Allegations of financial influence in politicsThe AIPAC has spent heavily to support pro-Israeli candidates in this year’s congressional primaries in the United States, Al Jazeera reported.Referring to AIPAC, Mamdani said they have “moved millions in dark money” to achieve single goal: “To preserve their power so that they can turn us against one another instead of our leaders turning towards the moral change we all know to be necessary. In the wealthiest city, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, we need not live in fear of monsters any longer.”Accusations of Antisemitic RhetoricDemocratic New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer accused the NYC Mayor of antisemitism and wrote in a post on X, “Swap ‘AIPAC’ for ‘Jews’ and it’s the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books.”Condemnation of official statements“That’s not criticizing a lobby. That’s laundering antisemitism from your podium as Mayor of a city with more than a million Jews. This bullshit is dangerous,” Gottheimer added.© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdThe Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:IsraelZohran MamdaniAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Jun 23: Latest News01France vs Iraq, FIFA World Cup 2026 highlights: Mbappe, Dembele give FRA 3-0 win after 2-hour-long delay02Messi becomes FIFA World Cup’s all-time highest goal-scorer, goes past Klose03Documentary on Kirti Chakra awardee military hero Major Tathawade to be screened across India04Paresh Rawal calls Akshay Kumar ‘extremely honest’, says is a ‘family man’; expert weighs in05Youngster selling guns through Instagram calls arrested, 5 pistols seizedAdvertisement