The election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City's next mayor has sent a chill across Israel as people come to terms with the victory of a politician propelled by an outspoken pro-Palestinian message that is rare in U.S. politics.
Israelis across the political spectrum fear that Mr. Mamdani's election — in the city with the world's second-largest Jewish population — could foreshadow icier relations with the U.S., Israel's most important ally. Support for Mr. Mamdani from almost one-third of Jewish voters only added to the pain.
“Very bad,” said Hana Jaeger, a Jerusalem resident, assessing the news the day after the election. “For the Jews, for Israel, for everyone, it's very bad. What else can you say?”
Mr. Mamdani's campaign was animated by an array of local economic issues, such as the lack of affordable child care and housing.
But in Israel, his pro-Palestinian platform is all that matters, and it was the strongest illustration yet of a change in attitudes showin
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