Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and frontrunner in the New York mayoral race, faced backlash for a joke made in 2023, where he declared if audience members did not clap for Khader El-Yateem, they were 'Zionists.' Jewish New Yorkers and Israel supporters expressed outrage over the comment, viewing it as an antisemitic slur. Figures like Blake Flayton emphasized the seriousness of this development, citing it as a significant antisemitic trend in modern liberal discourse. Some defended Mamdani, but criticism persisted over his past statements and their implications for the Jewish community.
If you don't clap for El-Yateem, you're a Zionist!" This joke by Zohran Mamdani has sparked outrage, with critics claiming it turns 'Zionist' into a slur.
The turning of 'Zionist' into a slur in mainstream western liberal spaces is the most significant antisemitic development of the 21st century.' — Blake Flayton.
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