Facing a Difficult Mayoral Choice
As a Zionist Jew and lifelong New Yorker, I struggled for weeks over who would be the best mayor to guide our city through challenging times. The decision weighed heavily on me.
A Crucial Conversation
A conversation with a respected Israeli family friend who has lived in New York for 25 years helped clarify my choice. He offered his perspective on Andrew Cuomo, whom I already viewed as arrogant, too old, and a womanizer.
“I'd vote for Bibi, who you know I despise, before I'd vote for Cuomo.”
Perspectives on the Candidates
He explained that many Israelis, who called Mamdani an antisemite and warned he would harm Jews in America, lacked the context to fully grasp this mayoral race. Similarly, Israelis have accused Americans of lacking understanding when supporting the Palestinian cause.
Understanding the Conflict
- Americans supporting Palestinians often misunderstand the phrase “From the river to the Sea” because they have never visited Israel or experienced its realities.
- They do not realize how close the borders are and how frequent the attacks have been.
- They overlook how Hamas has long placed fighters and weapons within hospitals, schools, and mosques, endangering their own civilians.
- The Netanyahu government was criticized for dismissing the possibility of a Hamas attack as severe as that on October 7.
These insights were crucial in helping me decide who to support in this election.
“Americans who were on the side of the Palestinians did not understand what the phrase 'From the river to the Sea' actually meant.”
Despite my reservations, this perspective highlighted the complexity and nuances behind the mayoral choice.
Author's summary: The author's difficult mayoral choice reveals deep divides in perspectives shaped by different understandings of local and international conflicts, influencing political decisions in New York.