New York City Muslim Groups for Israel

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                                         

Muslims have an anti BDS campaign in response to Mamdani.  On facebook, one can see their ad about it.  

In New York City, Muslim support for Israel is actively organized by several groups. Key groups and recent initiatives include: 

• Unbreakable Bond Coalition: A coalition that includes groups such as 
• 1. the American Muslim & Multifaith Women's Empowerment Council (AMMWEC), 
• 2. Muslim Women Speakers Bureau, Global Youth Unity Project (GYUP), and 
• 3. Muslims Israel Dialogue. The coalition launched an anti-BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) investment drive to raise funds for Israeli treasury bonds and to support coexistence and peace-building nonprofits. 
  
     I'd be happier if they erased the last 2 words put on by somebody not agreeing with them; as there never has been a  Palestine but a big area named by the Romans that the Ottoman Empire finally took and lost by the end of WWI.  I repeat, there never was a country of Palestine and the Palaestinians were a mixture of Arabs AND Jews living there.  There was no need to free them as they were not imprisoned or held there against their will.  It's a ridiculous concept and too many people have blindly believed it.  
Public Parades and Rallies: Muslim interfaith activists have publicly participated in New York's annual Israel Day Parade and the March for Israel. 
Interfaith Dialogue: Organizations actively partner with Jewish civil rights and interfaith organizations—such as 
1. the Combat Antisemitism Movement and 
2. Sharaka—to host joint events and advocate for regional partnerships    
The group aims to collect at least $1 apiece from 500,000 supporters by October 9. The funds will be invested in Israel treasury bonds, and investment proceeds will be distributed to four nonprofits — 
1. the coexistence group Sharaka, saying:  The Abraham Accords opened a new window of opportunity in the region. That is why young leaders from Israel and the Arab Gulf came together in 2020, to forge warm and deep people-to-people engagement, and translate the governmental agreements into a long-lasting peace. Their mission is to : Sharaka (’Partnership’ in Arabic): is working to shape a new Middle East, built on dialogue, understanding, cooperation and friendship.

 
The Jewish-Muslim Reconciliation Project
From Rivalry to Fraternity: Embracing Our Shared Heritage: Unlocking the potential of interfaith diplomacy to build paths for stability and prosperity...bud paths for st
y.2. the Jerusalem Interfaith Center, motto is:  Making religion part of the solution
3. the Combat Antisemitism Movement, After the successful Voices for Truth Summit in Miami, CAM is proud to bring together 100+ content creators to fight antisemitism, in the ancient city of Jaffa ,  We Are the Combat Antisemitism Movement!  CAM is a global coalition engaging more than 700 partner organizations and three million people from a diverse array of religious, political, and cultural backgrounds in the common mission of fighting the world’s oldest hatred. We act collaboratively to build a better future, free of bigotry, for Jews and all humanity.
4. Debate for Peace, an Arab-Jewish student group.   
It's a start.  The Abraham Accords must have started people thinking. However, the mayor of New York City is:

        
Zohran Kwame Mamdani: (born October 18, 1991) born in Kampala to Indo-Ugandan academic Mahmood Mamdani and Indian filmmaker Mira Nair. When he was seven years old, after having spent three years in Cape Town, he and his family moved to New York City. Mamdani graduated from the Bronx High School of Science before receiving a bachelor's degree in Africana studies from Bowdoin College in 2014, having worked as a housing counselor and rapper, 
 His knowledge of NYC was the surroundings of his family and their Indian life far more than knowing the social and culture of this large city.  It is doubtful that he was aware of:  Approximately 1 million Jewish people live in New York City proper, making up roughly 12% to 18% of the city's total population. Across the broader eight-county metropolitan area, the Jewish population is estimated at nearly 1.4 million, representing the largest concentration of Jewish people in any city in the world outside of Israel. At that, Jews make up only 2% of the USA population, so you can see how different NYC is for Jews. He's evidently a strong Muslim, not like many from India today or rather, Pakistan, where most live, having problems with Hindus earlier.                          
The relationship between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Jewish communities is highly polarized, primarily driven by his vocal anti-Zionism, pro-Palestinian activism, and revocation of Israel-related executive orders.
While mainstream Jewish leaders fiercely criticize his rhetoric and boycott his administration, he retains significant backing from progressive Jewish groups, probably like those listed above.  
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is a Twelver Shia Muslim. He is known for his highly vocal, progressive critiques of Israeli policy.  This is why he is continually  against Israel.  This is the Islam of Iran.   He belongs to the Twelver branch of Shia Islam, which represents the mainstream tradition within Shiism.   His father is an Indian-origin Muslim born in Uganda, and his mother is a Hindu.  While openly embracing his faith, his democratic socialist platform often puts him at odds with conservative religious groups due to his support for LGBTQIA+ rights, abortion access, and the legalization of marijuana. I believe that's to have a connection with certain Democrats.   Mamdani has been a prominent and vocal advocate for Palestinian rights, supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement and characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide.  
Resource:
https://jic.org.il/
https://www.sharakango.com/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/nyc-muslim-groups-announce-anti-bds-campaign-in-response-to-mamdani/