Michael Goodwin: Mamdani unveils new NYC antisemitism strategy but cant hide his hatred for Israel

Breaking News Alert: City Hall opposes and condemns antisemitism.Whoa, Nellie, will wonders never cease? But color me very skeptical that Mayor Mamdani seriously approves of the new policy and plans to enforce it.After all, he’s a walking, talking fountain of the ancient Jew hatred and has been fanning the flames since he emerged on the political scene, and especially since he was elected mayor.He refuses to see Israel as the ­legitimate homeland of the Jewish people, and has embraced the odious claim that its existence is a catastrophe for Palestinian Arabs.He won’t denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” hiding behind the weak excuse that it’s not the mayor’s job to police speech — even speech that calls for the elimination of Israel.But he won’t do even that, with one result being that antisemitic incidents in the city are soaring, way beyond the proportion of Jewish residents.Meanwhile, he embraces the leftist fantasy that New York is enduring a wave of Islamophobia.Against that history, we are to suddenly believe he is committed to taking on Jew haters, though his policy is half-baked and extremely light on details.The plan and his statement don’t define antisemitism, nor is Israel mentioned.Yet according to a lengthy release issued by his press office Tuesday, the mayor has discovered that Jew hatred in Gotham is dangerous and widespread.The release quotes him as declaring that “antisemitism has no place in New York City.

Jewish New Yorkers have helped build this city, shaped its culture and strengthened our communities for generations, and they deserve to be safe, celebrated and protected by a city government that stands with them.”There’s no arguing with the words, but the tone of surprise at the scope of the problem is downright weird.So weird that it recalls a famous scene from the movie “Casablanca” about Rick’s Café.As the corrupt Captain Renault is handed a thick roll of cash for his share of the night’s take, h...