The state Democratic Party has quietly approved a resolution condemning antisemitism as it battles back against the notion its leaders “are soft’’ on anti-Jewish hate.
The little-noticed measure was overwhelmingly passed earlier this month — moments after Jay Jacobs, who is Jewish and a supporter of Israel, was overwhelmingly re-elected as party chairman over insurgent candidate and Otsego County Democratic Party Chair Caitlin Ogden.
“I feel very good about it. I’m constantly responding to claims that Demcrats are soft on antisemitism,” Jacobs told The Post.
“It’s just not true.”
The New York Democratic Party, in its official press release put out Oct. 1 about the election of officers, made no mention of the proposed resolution.
Jacobs insisted that the omission was an oversight and got lost amid the focus on the party’s internal elections, including his own.
“That was a mistake. We dropped the ball,” he said.
“I want the people to know what the New York Democratic Party is doing to confront antisemitism. It’s consequential,” Jacobs said.
Leftists in the party had been pushing to oust Jacobs, who is also the Nassau County Democratic Party chairman, for alleged lackluster leadership and refusing to endorse radical New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani last year.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, during his debate last week with Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul, accused Hochul ally Mamdani of being an “antisemite.”
Jacobs’ more moderate leanings within the party — including his support of Israel — have rankled some progressives and Israel-bashers.
The new antisemitism-related resolution states: “Contemporary antisemitism often manifests through subtle rhetoric, coded language and dog whistles including, but not limited to, Holocaust denial and distortion; modern blood libels depicting Jewish people as inherently murderous or targeting children; conspiracy theories alleging Jewish control of governments, financial institutions, or the media; accusations of dual loyalty to Israel; and the use of Israel as a pretext for hostility toward Jewish people or Jewish institutions.
“Antiisemitism continues to be expressed through overt acts of intimidation and violence, including assaults on Jewish individuals, vandalism of Jewish institutions, the display of swastikas, Nazi symbols and Nazi salutes, threats against synagogues and schools, and other acts intended to intimidate or terrorize Jewish communities.
“No person should be subjected to violence, targeted discrimination, intimidation, or harassment because of their religion, heritage, or ethnicity; now, therefore, be it. Resolved, that the New York State Democratic Committee: Condemns all antisemitic violence, intimidation, discrimination, and aggression,” the measure states.
The resolution applauded Hochul’s approval of a buffer-zone law that particularly criminalizes harassment outside synagogues and other houses of worship.
The statement also lauded Mamdani’s 900% increase in funding for the Office of Hate Crime Prevention in this year’s city budget.
Jacobs defended Mamdani to The Post, saying his pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel views do not make him an antisemite.
“Zohran Mamdani is not an antisemite. He sympathizes with the Palestinian cause, and he opposes some of the actions of the Israeli government. I have disagreements with him on some of the issues,” he said.
“The fact that Bruce Blakeman said that is an effort to get votes, and it’s shameful.”
The Dem Party’s new resolution also calls for legislation and resources to combat antisemitism and hate crimes and educational initiatives statewide that teach the history, contributions and experiences of Jewish people, the Holocaust and current manifestations of antisemitism.
The statement calls on all individuals campaigning for or holding Democratic Party positions to abide by the spirit and intent of the hate fighting party platform.
