By: Fern Sidman

Israeli President Isaac Herzog warmly welcomed outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams to his official residence in Jerusalem on Monday, expressing deep gratitude for what he described as Adams’s steadfast and enduring support for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The meeting, held as part of Adams’s multi-day visit to Israel, underscored the outgoing mayor’s continued commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and combating the surge of antisemitism in New York and around the world.

“You are a dear friend of Israel and the Jewish people,” Herzog told Adams, as reported by The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). “This is your home, and your friends are here.”

The remarks reflected the close rapport between the two leaders, forged through Adams’s repeated demonstrations of solidarity with Israel — including his visit to the country in the early days following the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, when he traveled to express sympathy and support for the victims and their families. Herzog recalled that visit on Monday, describing it as “historic” and emblematic of Adams’s moral clarity during one of Israel’s darkest moments.

“You came just to be with us, to show strength and confidence,” Herzog said, according to the JNS report. “Your presence was a great comfort to the people of Israel.”

Adams arrived in Israel on November 14 for a five-day visit, with an agenda centered on strengthening economic, technological, and governmental partnerships, while also addressing rising global antisemitism. According to the information provided in the JNS report, the outgoing mayor’s itinerary includes meetings with senior Israeli officials, business leaders, and experts in urban innovation and counterterrorism strategy.

Speaking alongside Herzog, Adams reaffirmed that Israel remains “an ally and a friend,” stressing that his departure from public office will not diminish his advocacy for the Jewish state or for Jewish communities worldwide.

“Leaving office doesn’t end my commitment,” Adams said, as cited in the JNS report. “I will continue to speak out for Israel, to fight antisemitism, and to build bridges between our peoples.”

He noted that 49% of New Yorkers voted against the anti-Israel platform represented by Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who won the city’s mayoral election on November 5. “Nearly half of New Yorkers made it clear that they don’t embrace that philosophy,” Adams said. “That’s a powerful message.”

Adams’s comments appeared to reference the deep divisions in New York’s political landscape following Mamdani’s victory — an election that, as JNS reported, has drawn concern from Jewish and pro-Israel organizations due to Mamdani’s openly hostile rhetoric toward Israel.

During their meeting, Herzog praised Adams’s outspoken defense of Israel and his consistent condemnation of antisemitism, describing his efforts as “a big message to the world.” The Israeli president drew a historical parallel to his late father, Chaim Herzog, who served as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in 1975 and famously denounced the UN resolution equating Zionism with racism.

“I thought the world had changed,” Herzog said, according to the JNS report. “But no — it’s getting worse.”

He warned that antisemitic rhetoric, both in political discourse and on social media platforms, has reached alarming levels, calling it a “global epidemic of hate.” Herzog said that leaders like Adams, who speak out clearly and unequivocally against such hatred, play a vital role in confronting it.

“Your strong moral clarity matters,” Herzog told Adams. “You are sending a message that the Jewish people are not alone.”

Adams responded that combating antisemitism requires “clarity and message,” urging public figures to be unafraid of speaking truthfully. “It’s become cool and hip to be antisemitic,” Adams said, echoing statements he made earlier in his trip, as reported by JNS. “We can’t let this become normalized.”

In addition to his meeting with Herzog, Adams held separate discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday. According to Netanyahu’s office, the meeting took place at the Kirya, Israel’s military headquarters complex in Tel Aviv.

As reported by JNS, Netanyahu thanked Adams for his “great support for Israel and for being a true friend of the Jewish people.” The prime minister’s remarks emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between Israel and major global cities like New York in areas of technology, security, and economic innovation.

Foreign Minister Sa’ar also lauded Adams’s record of solidarity, describing him as “a true friend of Israel” who has “consistently stood against antisemitism and for Israel’s right to defend itself.”

The meetings reinforced what JNS characterized as the enduring partnership between Israel and New York — a relationship deeply rooted in shared values, mutual investment, and a robust cultural connection.

Adams’s visit to Israel takes place against the backdrop of political upheaval in New York City following the mayoral election earlier this month. The city’s incoming leader, Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens and self-proclaimed democratic socialist, is known for his strident criticism of Israel and his associations with anti-Israel activist groups.

According to the information contained in the JNS report, Mamdani’s campaign rhetoric — including his refusal to denounce the slogan “Globalize the Intifada” — sparked widespread condemnation from Jewish community leaders, who have warned of potential consequences for Jewish life and public safety in New York.

Adams, who dropped out of the race in September amid low approval ratings, endorsed former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ultimately lost to Mamdani by a margin of 50.4% to 41.6%.

In his remarks to Herzog, Adams expressed concern over the political direction of the city he has led since 2022, calling it “a moment that requires courage.” Nonetheless, he reiterated his faith in the resilience of New York’s Jewish community. “The Jewish people have endured far worse than political shifts,” he said, according to the JNS report. “They will continue to thrive, and I’ll be standing beside them.”

Adams’s farewell trip to Israel has been described by JNS as both symbolic and substantive — a reaffirmation of his pro-Israel record and a statement of moral continuity even as he prepares to leave public office.

Throughout his tenure, Adams has positioned himself as a vocal ally of the Jewish community, participating in rallies against antisemitism, visiting synagogues targeted by hate crimes, and promoting educational initiatives to strengthen interfaith understanding.

As his meeting with Herzog concluded, the Israeli president once again thanked Adams for his friendship and fortitude. “You have always stood on the right side of history,” Herzog said. “And for that, Israel and the Jewish people will always remember you.”

Adams smiled and replied, “This isn’t goodbye — this is a continuation of a lifelong friendship.”

He will remain in Israel through November 18, concluding his trip with visits to Jerusalem’s historic sites and meetings with local innovators before returning to New York.

As the JNS report observed, the visit served as a poignant coda to Adams’s mayoralty — one defined by his consistent message of solidarity: that standing with Israel, in times of both triumph and trial, remains a moral duty shared by allies around the world.