New York’s governor said her job fighting “sky-high” antisemitism would be easier if Israel ousts Benjamin Netanyahu — shifting blame from Albany to a foreign leader while attacks on Jewish New Yorkers remain a top concern.
Story Highlights
- Gov. Kathy Hochul tied New York’s “sky-high” antisemitism to Israel’s leadership and war policy.
- She said international backlash to Israel’s response changed public sentiment and fueled pressure.
- Anti-Defamation League reported a record 1,437 incidents in New York in 2024; totals dipped in 2025 but assaults rose.
- Critics say Hochul is dodging state responsibility and should act harder on campus unrest and street hate.
Hochul Links New York Antisemitism With Netanyahu and Gaza War
Gov. Kathy Hochul told POLITICO that her job would be “a lot easier” if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lost power, while discussing antisemitism she called “sky-high right now” in New York. She argued that Israel’s military response after October 7 lost global support and drove political backlash. She said she privately warned Israel not to “overreach” because it would change the dynamic that first rallied the world to Israel’s side. Her comments connected foreign policy to local safety concerns.
Hochul also sketched an alternative path. She said Israel needs leaders “of goodwill” who protect Israel’s security while working toward “a safe Palestinian state”. She said that outcome is not in Netanyahu’s interest. She framed her duty as protecting Jewish New Yorkers and funding security for synagogues and yeshivas, while saying she represents everyone in the state. Her remarks came as incidents against Jews remain a major share of reported hate crimes in New York City.
What the Numbers Show About Antisemitic Incidents in New York
Anti-Defamation League data showed 1,437 antisemitic incidents in New York in 2024, up 18 percent, the highest total the group has recorded for the state. New York City officials have said Jewish New Yorkers made up more than half of hate-crime victims in the prior year, showing the scale of the threat on city streets and subways. These reports track harassment, vandalism, threats, and assaults, but they do not assign blame to one political leader or one foreign policy.
Trends in 2025 complicate a simple story. Anti-Defamation League reported New York incidents fell about 19 percent to 1,160 in 2025, but assaults rose from 82 to 90, keeping risk high for people on the ground. The counts reflect reported incidents. They do not prove that any single decision by Netanyahu, Israel’s cabinet, or the Israeli military directly caused specific acts in New York. That is a key limit in the current evidence base.
Pushback: Critics Say Albany Is Dodging Its Own Job
Republican Representative Mike Lawler blasted Hochul’s remarks and said she was repeating talking points instead of fixing antisemitism in New York. He called the comments embarrassing and said blaming Jews for hate against Jews is wrong. Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman said antisemitism rose under Hochul’s watch and faulted her for not protecting Jewish students during the Columbia University occupations and bridge blockades tied to pro-Palestinian protests. Their case centers on local accountability and law enforcement.
City Hall has moved in parallel. New York City created a Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism in 2025 and later advanced steps to codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition into city policy tools. Supporters say this aligns funding, training, and tracking to protect Jewish residents. Critics want faster discipline on campuses, stronger protest rules that block intimidation, and more aggressive prosecution of offenders who target Jews at schools, synagogues, and on the subway.
What Matters for Readers: Security First, Politics Second
New Yorkers need safety now, not a blame game aimed overseas. The data confirm a heavy burden on Jewish neighbors, especially in the city, with assaults rising even as overall incidents dipped in 2025. Clear next steps are within state and local control: enforce laws against threats and assault, hold universities to equal standards, and keep security grants flowing to schools and houses of worship. Leaders can debate Israel’s politics, but they must protect New Yorkers first.
Sources:
twitchy.com, politico.com, nyc.gov, nynj.adl.org, israelnationalnews.com, docs.house.gov, hotair.com
