NEW YORK — New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday encouraged New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to focus more on the city government and less on Israel.

Hochul was asked in an interview with the New York Times about Mamdani’s video statement last month acknowledging that he could not arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his repeated vows to do so.

Mamdani’s statement, which was viewed hundreds of millions of times, included a series of incendiary claims against Israel, such as falsely stating that Netanyahu is a war criminal.

The video, along with Mamdani’s other broadsides against Israel, have sparked alarm among many New York Jews, who are targeted in hate crimes far more than any other group, including in an alleged stabbing days after Mamdani’s statement.

Hochul was asked by the New York Times if Mamdani’s anti-Israel rhetoric could make Jewish New Yorkers uneasy.

“I encourage him to — ‘Let’s focus on blocking and tackling of city government,’” she said, using a football metaphor that refers to focusing on basic, routine daily tasks for success.

She mentioned her shared focus with Mamdani on issues like child care and housing.

“That’s where I believe the main focus should be,” Hochul added.

Hochul also vowed in the interview to “throw my body against any antisemitism.”

“I have, and I will,” she said.

Hochul is a moderate Democrat, while Mamdani is on the far left,........

© The Times of Israel