A bipartisan pair of lawmakers from opposite banks of the Hudson River is training fire on New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, accusing the democratic socialist of downplaying antisemitism and siding with the BDS movement at a moment of rising anti-Jewish hate.

Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) issued a rare joint statement Wednesday blasting Mamdani’s opposition to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism — a benchmark embraced by 35 states, dozens of countries and, most recently, by New York City through an executive order signed by Mayor Eric Adams in June.

“Zohran Mamdani’s reckless attempt to roll back New York City’s adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism is shameful, dangerous, and completely disgusting,” the lawmakers said.

The IHRA definition describes antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews,” including physical and rhetorical manifestations targeting individuals, institutions or property. Its defenders say the clarity is crucial in helping governments and schools root out anti-Jewish hate.

Mamdani has taken the opposite tack, telling Bloomberg last week that he would abandon IHRA if elected because it “conflates criticism of Israel and Zionism with antisemitism.” A supporter of the BDS movement, Mamdani argues the city should instead align with former President Joe Biden’s federal strategy on antisemitism, which emphasizes education and community engagement rather than legal definitions.

That position has opened him up to withering attacks. Lawler and Gottheimer said Mamdani is “indefensible” for refusing to condemn chants to “globalize the intifada,” and warned that his stance should alarm Jewish families across the region. “The BDS movement is antisemitic. Efforts to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist are antisemitic,” they wrote.

The Anti-Defamation League quickly sided with the bipartisan duo. “Efforts to dismantle or discredit this consensus are dangerous and out of step with the broad, bipartisan, and international recognition that the IHRA Working Definition is a vital tool in combating antisemitism,” the ADL said, noting it had “proudly welcomed” New York City into the IHRA coalition.

The dust-up comes as Congress weighs the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which would formally enshrine IHRA’s definition into federal law — a push both Lawler and Gottheimer support. The measure has become a flashpoint between progressives who argue IHRA chills criticism of Israeli policy and centrists who see it as a bulwark against violent extremism.

Mamdani’s campaign is brushing off the criticism. Spokesperson Dora Pekec said a Mamdani administration would approach antisemitism “in line with the Biden Administration’s National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism,” emphasizing “education, community engagement, and accountability” rather than what she called rigid definitions.

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