Hochul dodges weighing in on Mamdani’s antisemitism plan

Gov. Kathy Hochul shied away from tough questions about Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s strategic plan to combat antisemitism that critics have knocked for refusing to define the term or recognize Zionism.

The Democratic governor, who is running for reelection in November, refused to weigh in on one of the report’s perceived deficiencies — a failure to define antisemitism.

Mamdani has gotten heat for repeatedly refusing to define the term while declining to endorse Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

“The administration is taking steps in the right direction, I think we should applaud that,” Hochul said, claiming she wasn’t familiar with the report’s contents after an unrelated press conference Tuesday.

“I don’t know what they described, but all I know is we have a definition in New York, and we have a strong plan in New York,” Hochul claimed.

The New York State Human Rights law does not include a specific definition of antisemitism, but a “proclamation” issued by Hochul in 2022 did offer a definition.

Hochul’s office was briefed by City Hall on the plan Monday evening, sources told The Post. That briefing including discussion of the omission of an antisemitism definition.

Proponents believe International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition to be a more impactful legal definition to make it easier to prosecute hate crimes against Jews.

The IHRA definition defines antisemitism as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”

“Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities,” the definition states.

State Assemblyman Sam Berger (D-Queens) told The Post that Hochul should adopt the working definition by an executive order or lawmakers should codify it into law through a bill he is sponsoring called the HOPE Act.

“I’m grateful to the Governor for standing by a statewide definition, but respectfully, a non-legally binding document is not going to cut it,” said Berger, who is Orthodox Jewish.

The remarks come with Hochul desperately trying to attract the support of Mamdani’s base of support as polls have her within single digits of her Republican gubernatorial candidate and current Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.

Hochul boasted plans to appear with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, in Ithaca on Sunday but her office says she canceled because of stormy weather in New York City.

At that Sunday event, AOC supporters sung the controversial pro-Palestinian chant “from the river to the sea,” which critics say amounts to calling to abolish Israel and its people.

Mamdani, in a statement, said the plan’s investments in additional Title IX coordinators, grants for nonprofits and additional security funding was necessary to address the “scourge” of antisemitism.

Data released last month shows hate crimes spiking by almost 16% compared to 2025, and 8% in Jewish-motivated crimes alone.