Zohran Mamdani. Photo: Ron Adar / SOPA Images via Reuters Connect

Democratic socialist and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was pressed on his views concerning Israel and combating antisemitism during a Monday night interview on “The Late Show” with host Stephen Colbert.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, another Democratic mayoral candidate, was also on the show and engaged in the discussion, which occurred one day before New York City voters cast ballots in the Democratic primary.

Colbert did not waste time getting to the heart of the matter, asking, “Does the State of Israel have the right to exist?” Lander affirmed that Israel does have such a right “as a Jewish and democratic state,” while Mamdani paused before saying, “Yes … like all nations, I believe it has a right to exist and a responsibility also to uphold international law.”

Colbert’s question was likely prompted by public backlash that Mamdani received for declining on multiple occasions in recent weeks to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

Colbert then asked the candidates about mounting fears within the Jewish community over a record spike in antisemitism across the US following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The host pressed Mamdani about his past remarks regarding Gaza and Israel, pointing out that many Jewish New Yorkers worry his leadership might increase antisemitism. 

New York City, which is home to the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, has experienced a major spike in antisemitic incidents since Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre, with police data showing Jews were targeted in the majority of hate crimes perpetrated in the city last year.

“These are not abstract statistics,” Mamdani said. “They’re lived experiences.”

He announced his proposal to boost anti-hate crime funding aimed at combating antisemitism by 800 percent through a reconstituted Department of Community Safety.

When Colbert asked directly, “And no justification for violence of any kind?” Mamdani replied, “No,” adding, “There’s no room for violence in this city, in this country, in this world.” The candidate added that disagreement over Israel’s policies shouldn’t equate to condoning violence.

Mamdani’s defense of the phrase “globalize the Intifada” has ignited backlash from Jewish organizations and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, which urged leaders to condemn its violent connotations.

In the closing stretch of the Democratic primary, Mamdani’s views on Israel and antisemitism have been increasingly scrutinized. Mamdani, a member of the far-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) organization, has made anti-Israel activism a cornerstone of his political career.

The progressive representative in the New York State Assembly has also sparked outrage after engaging in a series of provocative actions, such as appearing on the podcast of anti-Israel, pro-Hamas influencer Hasan Piker and vowing to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During an event hosted by the UJA-Federation of New York last month, Mamdani also declined to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

“I believe that Israel has a right to exist with equal rights for all,” Mamdani said in a carefully worded response when asked, sidestepping the issue of Israel’s existence specifically as a “Jewish state.”

Then during a New York City Democratic mayoral debate, he once again refused to acknowledge Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, sparking immediate backlash among the other candidates. 

In 2023, while speaking at a DSA convention in New York, Mamdani encouraged the audience to applaud for Palestinian American community activist Khader El-Yateem, saying “If you don’t clap for El-Yateem, you’re a Zionist.”

During that same speech, Mamdani touted his longstanding anti-Israel activism.

“I was somebody who began my journey in organizing and in politics by co-founding my school’s first Students for Justice in Palestine. The struggle for Palestinian liberation was at the core of my politics and continues to be,” Mamdani said.

Students for Justice in Palestine has been at the forefront of the wave of pro-Hamas demonstrations that have engulfed college campuses during the Gaza war.

The post Mamdani Grilled on Anti-Israel Views During ‘Late Show’ Appearance With Stephen Colbert first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami speaks during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 14, 2024. Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia press Agency) via REUTERS

Iran plans to restore its nuclear program despite a newly brokered ceasefire with Israel and US President Donald Trump’s vow that the regime will “never rebuild” its nuclear facilities, according to the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.

“We planned to avoid any interruption in the nuclear industry process,” Iranian nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said in an interview with the state-run Mehr news agency. “Preparations for the revival [of the country’s nuclear program] were foreseen in advance, and our plan is to not allow any interruption in the production and service process.”

Eslami’s comments were published on the same day that Trump wrote in a social media post on Truth Social that “IRAN WILL NEVER REBUILD THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES!”

Experts and Western governments have long warned that Iran’s nuclear program is ultimately meant to build weapons; Tehran has claimed its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.

Earlier this month, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a sweeping military campaign aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear capabilities and neutralizing what officials described as an imminent nuclear threat.

Israel’s campaign of airstrikes and covert sabotage from within Iran came on the 61st day of the 60-day deadline set by Trump for Tehran to secure a deal through diplomacy to curb Iran’s nuclear activities.

After five rounds of negotiations with Washington, a potential agreement fell through when Iran announced it would continue its uranium enrichment and expand its nuclear program. Since then, the regime has faced mounting pressure to return to the negotiating table.

On Monday, Trump announced a “complete and total” ceasefire between Tehran and Jerusalem, bringing an end to the 12-day war between the two Middle Eastern adversaries.

Trump’s announcement came just a few hours after Iran launched missile strikes on the Al Udeid US airbase in Qatar, retaliating against American attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.

On Saturday night, the US joined Israel’s airstrike campaign against the Islamist regime by launching a large-scale military strike against Iran, destroying three key nuclear enrichment facilities, including the heavily fortified Fordow site.

In a public address, Trump said that the operation had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities and urged Tehran to “make peace,” warning that any future aggression would be met with even greater force.

However, Tehran broke the nascent ceasefire within minutes of it starting. Israeli officials said that three Iranian missiles were launched within the first three hours of the truce. The first came just six minutes in, with two more following later. All were either intercepted or landed in open areas. In response, Israeli warplanes struck a single radar installation north of Tehran, a strike that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office described as a proportional reply to Iran’s violations of the agreement.

As Israeli jets responded, however, an incensed Trump told reporters on the White House lawn: “I’m not happy that Israel’s going out now.” He added that the two sides had “been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f—k they’re doing.”

Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, praised the ceasefire announcement and urged Iran to resume negotiations and cooperation with the agency.

“I welcome announcements on the Iran situation. Resuming cooperation with the IAEA is key to a successful agreement,” Grossi wrote in a post on X.

He also said he had reached out to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss a potential meeting aimed at resuming negotiations, “stressing this step can lead to a diplomatic solution to the long-standing controversy over Iran’s nuclear program.”

Grossi’s comments followed an announcement from Iran’s parliament on Tuesday that its national security committee had approved a bill outlining the full suspension of Tehran’s cooperation with the agency.

The post Iran’s Atomic Chief Vows Regime Will Revive Nuclear Program first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

People attend the funeral of victims of a suicide bombing at the Mar Elias Church on Sunday, in Damascus, Syria, June 24, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Syria’s top Christian leader said on Tuesday at the funeral for victims of a deadly church bombing that President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s government bore responsibility for not protecting minorities and his condolences were insufficient.

At least 25 worshippers died on Sunday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, the first such attack since Sharaa’s Islamist-led government seized power in December after the Assad family dynasty’s toppling.

The attack, which the government blamed on the Islamic State terrorist group, reinforced doubts among minorities about whether they can rely on government assurances of protection.

“With love and with all due respect Mr. President, you spoke yesterday by phone … to express your condolences. That is not enough for us,” the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John (X) Yazigi, said at the funeral, drawing applause.

“We are grateful for the phone call. But the crime that took place is a little bigger than that.”

Christians made up around 10 percent of Syria’s pre-war population of 22 million, but their numbers shrunk significantly during the 14-year conflict, mainly through emigration. Only a few hundred thousand are now estimated to be living in Syria.

Yazigi said the government must prioritize protection for all. “What is important to me – and I will say it – is that the government bears responsibility in full,” Yazigi said of the church attack.

Hundreds were at the service in the nearby Church of the Holy Cross to bury nine of the victims, whose bodies were placed in simple white coffins adorned with white flowers.

Social affairs minister Hind Kabawat – the only Christian and only woman in Syria’s new government – attended.

On Monday, Sharaa said the attack was a crime hurting all Syrians but did not use the word “Christians” or “church.”

The government said security forces raided hideouts used by Islamic State, killing two of its members including one who facilitated the suicide bomber’s entry into Mar Elias Church.

IS did not issue a statement of responsibility.

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