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In his pursuit of political power, Zohran Mamdani insists on dragging American Jews through the mud.

Mamdani’s campaign for mayor of New York City is no less ugly than anything else touched by anti-Israel activists. Mamdani shares with many American Jews a yearning to tackle our nation’s social ills, yet those of us who support Israel even in moderate mode must be excluded from this undertaking.

He is not that explicit, but his attitude is obvious. He spent Oct. 8, 2023, neglecting to condemn Hamas’ massacre of 1,200 Jews in southern Israel but issued a statement that “a just and lasting peace can begin by ending the occupation and dismantling apartheid.” That is not only false, but it can only mean that it justifies the Oct. 7 slaughter of 1,200 Jews and kidnapping of 250 survivors. He has a history of making such comments.

Zohran Mamdani cannot be trusted.

Jews nationwide are terrified that this guy will be elected mayor of our largest city (estimated population, 8 million) and the home to an estimated 960,000 Jews. He won more than 43.5 percent of the votes in the first round of the Democratic primary last Tuesday as former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo received 36.3 percent.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim, needs to prevail with a majority in a ranked-voting procedure this week to become the Democratic nominee, and in November’s general election could face Republican Curtis Sliwa, incumbent Democratic Mayor Eric Adams running as an independent and possibly Cuomo as an independent.

Critics of Mamdani hoped that Cuomo, who quit as governor after being accused of sexual harassment, would win the primary, and they will now work hard to re-elect Adams, who was indicted on federal bribery and fraud charges last fall. The Trump administration dropped the charges, claiming they made no deal with Adams.

If an alleged pervert could not beat Mamdani, what makes them think that an alleged crook can do it, especially if the vote is again split?

Cuomo won Jewish communities in Orthodox sections of Brooklyn, the excessive Jewish presence on the Upper West and East Sides in Manhattan, northeastern Queens and Riverdale in the Bronx.

The public is enthusiastic about Mamdani’s plans to address basic social ills, as evidenced by TV host Stephen Colbert’s announcement of Mamdani’s victory. He was answered with raucous, high-spirited applause. Many appreciate Mamdani’s goals, but they do not understand that the Jewish community must suffer amid the machinations. Such as:

“I hate Trump & co. and I think this probable mayor is a nightmare,” writes Karin on Facebook. “I think he’s dangerous, and I think he’s skilled with media and PR which fools a lot of shallow thinkers. It’s so scary to me.”

“It’s not just Trump hate,” writes Joyce, whose last name is not Jewish-sounding. “No, it’s an agenda to usher in a new world. A new age full of the hate of all nations. Their purpose is to take Israel from the Jews so they have dominant control over Israel.”

That is a tiny sample of opinions I have encountered on Facebook that reflect my feelings. Not to mention how Jewish leaders and political figures are responding.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, who is not Jewish, demanded that Mamdani condemn the phrase “Globalise the Intifada,” which Palestinians claim means a struggle or a plea for liberation, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

“As a leader of a city as diverse as New York City…he should denounce it,” she said in an interview. “You can’t celebrate it. You can’t value it. You can’t lift it up…it is seen as slaughtering the Jews and destroying Israel.

“If you want to be a leader, you have to recognise how these things are felt and received,” added Gillibrand, who lives in Albany, 160 miles north of NYC.

It usually goes unmentioned that the majority of American Jews vote for Democrats, which means they likely support the party’s drive to address health care, gun safety and other domestic issues. If not, why don’t they vote Republican?

Their views toward Israel are nuanced and wide-ranging. Many Jewish conservatives may automatically defend whatever the Israeli government does, but centrist and liberal Jews question or denounce Israeli policies, and some are adamant in opposing most Israeli actions.

The latter group is often the only Jewish segment accepted by the anti-Israel mob.

Mamdani’s religious faith is not an overriding concern. Most are fighting him because of his approach to Jewish feelings, not for being a Muslim.

I am slow to accuse anyone of antisemitism, as many of my brethren have done with Mamdani, but he has taken positions on Israel that are at best insensitive. Does anyone still wonder why we fear this guy?