New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim to hold the office, has intensified his criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), refusing to back down after calling the pro-Israel lobby group 'monsters' and facing accusations of antisemitism.

At a rally in Vermont last week, Mamdani denounced AIPAC's spending in congressional primaries, alleging it uses 'millions in dark money' to preserve power. 'In the wealthiest city, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, we need not live in fear of monsters any longer,' he said.

Speaking at City Hall on Monday, Mamdani defended his remarks, calling AIPAC an organization that 'has been supportive of the status quo' and 'fought any attempt to actually deliver safety' to Palestinians and the region. He noted that over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since a US-brokered 'ceasefire' in October.

New Jersey Representative Josh Gottheimer accused Mamdani of 'laundering antisemitism,' writing on X: 'Swap “AIPAC” for “Jews” and it’s the oldest antisemitic conspiracy theory in the books.'

The controversy comes as New York's primary elections test the Democratic Party's direction, with candidates' stances on Israel becoming a flashpoint. Mamdani-backed candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier is challenging incumbent Adriano Espaillat, who has received over $600,000 in support from AIPAC's super PAC.

Source: www.aljazeera.com