Israeli consul general Akunis invites Mayor Mamdani to view October 7 film in New York

Right · 2Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, invited New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to watch a 47-minute film on the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, which is to be screened in New York on the third anniversary. 1 2 Right · 2Akunis made the invitation in a speech at a memorial event held by the Israeli Consulate, which the Jerusalem Post and JNS say drew about 1,000 people, and he also sent Mamdani a formal letter. 1 3 Right · 2JNS places the event at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, an Orthodox synagogue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, on Monday evening; the Jerusalem Post also says Monday evening, while the Washington Examiner says the speech was on Tuesday. 3 2

Right · 3Akunis described the film as produced or compiled by the IDF, and in his letter said it includes footage recorded by Hamas attackers themselves; the Washington Examiner says the footage was captured on GoPro cameras. 1 2 3 Right · 3Akunis said Mamdani would see "for the first time" what "the people he supports actually did" and might "stop his relentless incitement, hatred and blood libels against the State of Israel"; in the letter he wrote that Mamdani's words were "a significant factor in the rise of antisemitism in New York" and that he hoped Mamdani would come "with an open heart". 1 2 3 Right · 2In the same speech Akunis addressed world leaders and mayors who criticise Israel, saying "We are done listening to your empty criticism" and "We are not impressed by your cowardly actions, your hypocrisy and your weakness"; JNS adds he said Israel was not impressed by "an approach designed to appease your new political base." 1 3

Right · 1The Washington Examiner reported that City Hall did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and none of the three articles carries a response from Mamdani. 2 Right · 2The invitation follows several earlier public clashes: Akunis warned that Mamdani's rescinding of his predecessor's orders, including adoption of the IHRA antisemitism definition, put Jewish communities in "immediate danger"; he said in February he would not meet Mamdani until the mayor recognised Israel as a Jewish state; he called Mamdani "a true hater of the State of Israel" after Mamdani skipped the Israel parade in May; and in June he said "No one needs your recognition of Israel." 1 2 Right · 2The Washington Examiner adds that Akunis has compared Mamdani's support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement to Nazi Germany's tactics, and that left-wing groups have promoted an anti-Zionist rally outside City Hall on Oct. 7, with some posts since deleted; JNS describes Mamdani as having accused Israel of "genocide" and campaigned on arresting the Israeli prime minister. 2 3

Right · 1JNS also describes the evening's other elements: a moment of silence, recordings from the attacks played between speeches, remarks by a Nova festival survivor, a ZAKA volunteer and rabbis, a montage of released hostages reuniting with families, and the singing of "Hatikvah". 3 Right · 1The Washington Examiner states the October 7, 2023 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and that roughly 250 people were abducted to Gaza. 2