Colbert grills Dem socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Israel, antisemitism

Late Show host Stephen Colbert pressed New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani about his stance on Israel and how he'd combat rising antisemitism in the Big Apple Mamdani the Democratic Socialist member of the state assembly who has seen a surge in the polls ahead of Tuesday's rank-choice primary appeared on the CBS late night show alongside his fellow Democratic rival Brad Lander who've both made headlines for giving each other their endorsements for second ranking in an effort to block ex-New York Gov Andrew Cuomo from clinching the Democratic nomination Colbert pointed to the ongoing war between Israel and Iran to ask both candidates whether Israel has the right to exist as a nation SANDERS ENDORSES SOCIALIST MAMDANI IN MOVE TO BLOCK CUOMO IN NYC MAYORAL RACE I assistance the vision of Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State Lander responded Mr Mamdani same question Colbert turned to the -year-old hopeful Does the State of Israel have the right to exist Yes Mamdani responded Like all nations I believe it has the right to exist and a responsibility also to uphold international law The liberal late-night host who repeatedly stressed he wasn't offering any endorsement in the mayoral race then pivoted to acknowledge the elephant in the room noting the fear within the Jewish district about the rise in antisemitism and what would happen if New York City elected Mamdani a far-left Muslim and an outspoken critic of Israel They're very upset by particular of the things that you've mentioned in the past and they're afraid that your mayorship would certainly lead to increased antisemitism that they believe that would be more dangerous for them Colbert revealed to Mamdani What do you say to those New Yorkers who are afraid that you wouldn't be their mayor that you wouldn't protect them GLOBALIZE THE INTIFADA PHRASE STIRS TENSIONS ON NYC CAMPAIGN TRAIL AS MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT RAGES You know I know where that fear is coming from Mamdani responded It's a fear that is based upon the horrific attacks we've seen in Washington DC in Boulder Colorado and it's a fear that I hear also from New Yorkers themselves You know just a insufficient days after the horrific war crime of October a friend of mine communicated me about how he went to his synagogue for Shabbat services and he heard the door open behind him and a tremor went up his spine as he turned around not knowing who was there and what they meant for him he continued I spoke to a Jewish man in Williamsburg just months ago who notified me that the door he left unlocked for decades is now one that he locks And ultimately this is because we're seeing a situation of antisemitism Mamdani then touted his proposal committing an increase in funding for the Department of Region Safety's anti-hate crime offerings Because to your point antisemitism is not completely something that we should talk about It's something that we have to tackle Mamdani recounted Colbert We have to make clear there's no room for it in this city in this country in this world and- And no justification for violence of any kind Colbert interjected No Mamdani briskly responded There's no room for violence in this city in this country in this world And what I have unveiled also for a multitude of New Yorkers is an ability to deal with disagreement NYC MAYORAL CANDIDATE ZOHRAN MAMDANI DEFENDS BDS AID AMID ISRAEL CONTROVERSYMamdani who migrated to New York City when he was seven after living in Uganda and South Africa recalled an exchange he had with an older Jewish woman following the Democratic Club forum who whispered to him I disagree with you on one issue I'm pretty sure you know which one it is and I agree with you on the others and I'm going to be ranking you on my ballot And I say this because I know there are plenty of New Yorkers with whom I have a disagreement about the Israeli government's policies and also there are a multitude of who understand that that's a disagreement still rooted in shared humanity because the conclusions I've come to they are the conclusions of Israeli historians like Amos Goldberg They are echoing the words of an Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert who revealed just in recent weeks what we are doing in Gaza is a war of devastation It is cruel it is indiscriminate it is limitless it is criminal killing of civilians These are the conclusions I've come to Mamdani revealed Colbert later solicited Mamdani how he could build a bridge of understanding between the Jewish and Muslim communities as New York City mayor He responded by foregrounding that humanity For so various of us who've grown up in this city difference is something that we celebrate It's something that we know is definitely a part of the fabric of this place that we call home Mamdani noted And you know numerous years ago I was the campaign manager of a Jewish candidate for State Senate and I took him to a mosque in Bay Ridge and after he gave his speech at Friday prayers an older Palestinian man came over to him and he looked at him and he explained Cousins And I think that there is this possibility of building a shared life in our city because ultimately that is the story of New York City It's a shared life of people from across the world and it's one that we know even in the language of the hostage families themselves everyone for everyone We are tied together as one