Facing Tough Primary, Anti-Israel NYC Councilmember Shahana Hanif Suddenly Courts Jewish Voters

Facing Tough Primary, Anti-Israel NYC Councilmember Shahana Hanif Suddenly Courts Jewish Voters

Edited by:  Fern Sidman

With a competitive Democratic primary looming, New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif appears to be making a dramatic shift in her rhetoric toward Israel and Jewish voters in her district. As The New York Post reported on Saturday, the far-left, pro-Palestinian politician, who has historically aligned with anti-Israel rhetoric, is now making high-profile efforts to court Jewish voters—after largely ignoring anti-Semitism and Hamas terrorism in the past.

For much of her tenure, Hanif has refrained from condemning Hamas, even in the wake of the October 7th massacre, one of the deadliest terror attacks against Israelis in history. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, she has actively opposed efforts to fight anti-Semitism, voting against a City Council resolution to recognize “End Jew Hatred Day” in April 2023, dismissing it as a “far-right idea.” Moreover, she has previously blamed Israel entirely for the ongoing conflict, stating in a since-deleted post on X that “the root cause of this war is the illegal, immoral, and unjust occupation of the Palestinian people” and that “no peace” should be expected.

I condemn the vandalism at Miriam, a cherished local Park Slope restaurant. This hateful act threatens the safety of our community. My office is in contact with the 78th Precinct and the 5th Avenue BID. We’re reaching out to Miriam’s owner. Acts of hate have no place in our city. pic.twitter.com/QxG1HemgO6

— Council Member Shahana Hanif (@CMShahanaHanif) January 26, 2025

Yet, as The New York Post report detailed, Hanif’s stance appears to have shifted overnight—just as her primary opponent, Maya Kornberg, a Jewish Democrat and Brennan Center for Justice scholar, gains traction in their tight June 24 race. Facing the threat of losing her City Council seat in Brooklyn’s 39th district, which includes Park Slope and Borough Park, Hanif has suddenly begun expressing support for the Jewish community.

When the Israeli-owned restaurant Miriam in Park Slope was vandalized last week, Hanif swiftly condemned the attack on social media, calling it “a hateful act that threatens the safety of our community.” The report in The New York Post indicated that this marks a significant departure from her past reluctance to denounce anti-Semitism or speak up for Jewish New Yorkers.

Even on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, The New York Post report said that Hanif issued a rare statement acknowledging Hamas’ brutal assault—something that she had failed to do for months after the massacre. This shift coincides with the increasing competitiveness of her race against Kornberg, who has positioned herself as a more moderate alternative to Hanif’s far-left ideology.

Hanif’s past activism, however, paints a starkly different picture from her newly minted pro-Jewish outreach. The New York Post report highlighted her radical positions, including her participation in a pro-Palestinian rally at Bryant Park, where demonstrators chanted the infamous “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” slogan—a phrase widely regarded as calling for the eradication of Israel. She was also arrested at the demonstration, further cementing her reputation as a staunch anti-Israel figure.

Adding to the credibility crisis, Hanif demanded an immediate ceasefire just five days after the October 7 attack, according to the report in The New York Post. Her since-deleted post called for halting Israel’s military response, effectively urging the Jewish state to stand down even as it mourned the brutal and sadistic murders of 1,200 people, including women, children, and the elderly.

Despite her recent attempts at damage control, Jewish community leaders remain skeptical. Rabbi Andy Bachman, a former senior rabbi at Congregation Beth Elohim, revealed to The New York Post that Hanif reached out to him in August—but only after he had faced cancellation from a local bookstore for being a Zionist. Bachman dismissed her outreach as “too little, too late.” He added, “Any politician who is unwilling to condemn Hamas as a terrorist organization is simply not fit to lead.”

Hanif’s own campaign has doubled down, claiming she has “repeatedly and categorically condemned Hamas.” Yet, as The New York Post report pointed out, her team failed to provide any past examples of her actually doing so. This lack of evidence has only fueled Republican and moderate Democratic criticism, highlighting what many see as Hanif’s opportunistic pivot in an effort to secure votes in a more competitive election than she anticipated.

Financially, the race remains neck-and-neck. As The New York Post report noted, Hanif has raised approximately $68,000, while Kornberg trails closely behind with $63,000. The Brooklyn district in question includes liberal bastions such as Park Slope—which historically leans progressive—but also heavily Orthodox Jewish Borough Park, where Hanif’s history of anti-Israel rhetoric may prove a political liability.

Ultimately, The New York Post report suggested that Hanif’s sudden pro-Israel messaging is less about genuine conviction and more about political survival. With an increasingly scrutinized record, she is walking a tightrope, attempting to win back Jewish voters who have long questioned her stance on anti-Semitism and Israel.

As the June 24 primary approaches, The New York Post reported that Hanif’s political fate may hinge on whether voters believe her transformation is authentic—or simply a calculated election ploy to mask her prior radical positions.