Zohran Mamdani Urges Cornell Boycott Over Israel Ties

Zohran Mamdani Wants Cornell on the No-Go List Over Israel Links—Here’s Why It’s Messy

Okay, let’s talk about this Cornell boycott thing that’s blowing up. Zohran Mamdani—yeah, that progressive New York assemblyman who never shies away from a fight—just threw gasoline on the whole Israel-Palestine debate. Again. This time, he’s calling out Cornell University for its ties to Israel, and people are losing their minds on both sides. Classic 2020s campus drama, but with way higher stakes.

Wait, Who Even Is This Guy?

Right, so Mamdani’s this Queens politician who got elected in 2020—young, loud, and unapologetically socialist. The kind of guy who’ll fight for rent cancellation before breakfast and take on the NYPD by lunch. He’s deep in the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America, for those not acronym-literate) and rides hard for Palestinian rights. Some call him brave; others say he’s crossing lines. Honestly? Depends who you ask.

Here’s the thing—he’s all about BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions against Israel), which… look, that movement’s like lighting a match in a fireworks factory. Supporters say it’s justice; critics scream antisemitism. And that tension? It’s everywhere in his career.

The Cornell Bombshell

So back in 2020—on some podcast called “Talking Palestine”—Mamdani basically said Cornell should be boycotted. His reasoning? The university’s got these research partnerships with Israeli institutions, some allegedly tied to military tech. “Make global fights local,” he said. Clever framing, honestly.

But Cornell’s response was basically: Hold up, we’re about academic freedom here. Meanwhile, campus groups are split down the middle—pro-BDS students are cheering, while Jewish orgs are side-eyeing hard. You can practically feel the tension in the dining halls.

That Antisemitism Landmine

This is where it gets really messy. When you single out Israel—a Jewish-majority state—are you criticizing policy or veering into discrimination? Trump’s 2019 executive order basically said “anti-Zionism = antisemitism,” which… oversimplifies things, no?

Mamdani’s camp argues there’s a clear line between hating on a government and hating a people. But let’s be real—in today’s climate, that line gets blurry fast. Especially when campus tensions are already sky-high.

How Everyone’s Reacting

Mainstream Democrats? Mostly dodging this one like it’s last week’s leftovers. Republicans? Oh, they’re all over it as proof the left’s gone off the deep end. Meanwhile, #AbsoluteNewYorkBoycott is trending with the activist crowd. Classic generational divide—the kids are fired up while the establishment holds its breath.

For Mamdani, this could go either way. Street cred with the base? Check. Risk of alienating moderates in his diverse Queens district? Also check.

Boycotts: Do They Even Work?

History lesson time: Remember when universities divested from apartheid South Africa? That actually moved the needle. But these Israel-focused campaigns? Results are… mixed at best. Some say they just freeze academic cooperation without changing policies. Others argue the pressure has to start somewhere.

Here’s my take—boycotts are like throwing pebbles at a tank. Might annoy the driver, but you’ll need a lot more to actually stop it.

The Bottom Line

What Mamdani’s really exposing is how campuses became proxy wars for global conflicts. There’s real passion here—and real peril. When does standing with Palestine start feeling like hostility toward Jewish students? When does academic freedom enable oppression? No easy answers.

One thing’s clear though: As these debates rage, someone’s always getting caught in the crossfire. And usually? It’s the students just trying to get through finals.