From Maidan to Gaza: How New York’s Leftist Myths Equated Ukraine and Israel

Since 2014, a strange but persistent belief has emerged at secular meetings and intellectual gatherings in New York: the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine is allegedly a CIA project, and the war in Donbas is a “national liberation movement” in which Russia, of course, has no involvement.

This worldview was not shaken by facts or arguments. The only way to somewhat undermine the confidence of interlocutors was to show photographs of specific people — Ukrainian friends who stood on Maidan. The visual fact worked better than any explanations. Because myths are fueled not by logic, but by images.

Ukraine and Israel as the same “enemy”

The conversation about Ukraine almost always quickly shifted to Israel. And according to the same scheme.

The same people who explained Maidan as “external management” would, a minute later, start accusing Israel of imperialism, colonialism, and “oppression.” Sometimes — with the obligatory caveat that Hamas, of course, is “not ideal,” but “one must understand the context.”

Criticism of the Israeli government’s policy is possible and necessary — it is normal for any democracy. But substituting this criticism with the thesis of a “colonial project” has nothing to do with reality. Jews have been connected to this land for millennia, and modern Israeli society is formed by the descendants of refugees, not by the metropolis of an empire.

When the marginal becomes mainstream

For a long time, such views in the USA were considered extreme and marginal. Support for the DPR and LPR, justification of Hamas, denial of Russian aggression — all this existed on the periphery of the political field.

But the victory of Zoran Mamdani in the New York mayoral election showed that radical-left rhetoric is no longer marginal. It is moving to the center.

Zoran Mamdani: a symbol of the shift

From January 1, Mamdani takes office and becomes the most left-wing mayor in New York’s history. His internal program looks attractive at the level of slogans: freezing rent rates, free nurseries, free public transport.

But this is where sober skepticism begins. Implementing these promises requires the consent of the city council and the state governor. Attempts to create state stores with “social prices” could simply destroy small businesses — and are already causing resistance.

Foreign policy without authority — but with slogans

Formally, the mayor of New York does not influence international relations. But Mamdani has made foreign ideology an important part of his identity.

He openly supports the BDS movement, calling the boycott of Israel a “non-violent tool of international pressure.” This position fully aligns with the line of the “Democratic Socialists of America.”

A telling detail: in Mamdani’s biography, written by Theodore Hamm, Israel is mentioned 116 times, while Ukraine is mentioned once. Despite both countries being in a state of existential war.

Soviet templates in new packaging

The rhetoric of Mamdani and his like-minded people surprisingly accurately repeats Soviet propaganda clichés.

Since the 1950s, the USSR built a systematic campaign against Israel under the guise of “anti-Zionism.” Today, this discourse easily connects with anti-Ukrainian narratives: democracies are declared oppressors, and repressive regimes are “liberators.”

The world is divided into “capitalists” and “victims of colonialism.” In this scheme, Ukraine and Israel are automatically recorded in the camp of “world evil,” regardless of the facts.

What next

Zoran Mamdani is a charismatic, media-savvy, and ambitious politician. In the future, he could well become a congressman or senator and influence not only the city but also the federal agenda.

The only thing that closes the path to the pinnacle of power for him is his origin: being born in Uganda makes it impossible to participate in the US presidential race. But even without this, his influence on minds and discussions has already become a reality.

And that is why the conversation about myths surrounding Ukraine and Israel can no longer be considered “niche.” It has long gone beyond kitchens and university seminars — and has become part of big politics. It is important to speak about this directly, without illusions and convenient simplifications — NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.