Eric Adams has mandated that New York City agencies adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s antisemitism definition through an executive order. Adams emphasized the urgency of addressing antisemitism given recent attacks and statistics showing that Jewish New Yorkers face disproportionate rates of hate crimes despite representing a small percentage of the city’s population.
The IHRA definition includes examples that have generated substantial debate among scholars and activists, particularly those relating to criticism of Israeli government policies and existence. Free speech advocates have expressed concern that these provisions could be misused to suppress legitimate discourse, a concern that has been voiced even by the definition’s original author who has warned against its potential misapplication.
As Adams prepares for a competitive primary election while facing corruption allegations, his policy decision appears designed to appeal to Jewish voters who previously supported him. His main rivals present contrasting approaches: Andrew Cuomo has demonstrated strong support for Israeli leadership, while Zohran Mamdani has taken progressive positions that include calling Israeli actions genocidal and promising to pursue accountability.