Jewish leaders urge NYC mayor to tone down Israel remarks

Jewish community leaders and elected officials called on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to moderate his criticism of Israel on Friday, July 24, 2026, following a pair of stabbings on the Upper West Side. The calls came during a news conference at The Jewish Center, near where one of the attacks occurred the previous day, even as police had not established any motive or connection to the mayor's statements.

Police said a 51-year-old man, Raul Morales, was arrested after allegedly stabbing two men in quick succession on Thursday afternoon, July 23. The victims were identified as a 40-year-old Asian man attacked near West 84th Street and Central Park West, and a 50-year-old Jewish man attacked about two blocks away after leaving a synagogue. Authorities said witnesses reported the suspect yelled "Allahu Akbar" during both incidents. Both victims were hospitalized in stable condition. Police charged Morales on Friday with a hate crime in the stabbing of the Jewish man, though the investigation into motives is ongoing. Officials noted Morales had no known connection to either victim and that the victims did not appear to know each other.

At the gathering, several speakers linked...