Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has blamed current mayor Bill de Blasio for the recent spate of violent anti-Semitic attacks in the city, accusing him of standing idly by while anti-Semitism spread ‘like a cancer’ under his watch.
Giuliani’s comments were made on Twitter Sunday just hours after an assailant, believed to be 37-year-old Grafton Thomas, allegedly stabbed five people with a machete inside a rabbi’s home as they celebrated the seventh night of Hanukkah in Monsley, New York, late Saturday.
The assault became the 13th anti-Semitic attack in New York over the past month, sparking debate on both sides of the partisan divide for how to prevent such hate-fueled bloodshed – and who is responsible for fanning the flames.
De Blasio was the first to take a parting shot, suggesting in an interview on Sunday that hate ‘emanating from Washington’ was to blame for recent rise in anti-Semitism.
Though de Blasio insisted he wasn’t just blaming Donald Trump, Giuliani jumped to the defense of his presidential client, stating that the ‘rise in anti-Semitic violence in NYC is something that could have been stopped at a much earlier stage if the City had a Mayor who embraced the Broken Windows Theory, or at the least, a Mayor who worked full time & paid attention to what was going on.
‘Possibly the worst Mayor in NYC, de Blasio, has watched anti-Semitism rapidly metastasize, like a cancer, & is too unconcerned or lazy to “nip it in the bud”. Otherwise called Broken windows theory, which should be brought back.’
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani blamed current mayor Bill de Blasio for the recent spate of violent anti-Semitic attacks in the city, accusing him of standing idly anti-Semitism spread ‘like a cancer’ under his watch
De Blasio suggested in an interview on Sunday that hate ‘emanating from Washington’ was to blame for rise in anti-Semitism
The ‘broken windows theory’ was a policy implement by Giuliani during his reign as mayor which required strict enforcement against minor crimes to create bottom-up compliance to stop more serious offenses – such as homicide – from occurring, a policy later abandoned by de Blasio.
Giuliani’s assault continued into a third tweet, calling de Blasio a ‘coward’ who is yet to condemn anti-Semites in his own party, one which, in his opinion, harbors individuals whose ‘main objective is to destroy the Jewish Homeland.’
De Blasio issued a counter punch on Monday morning, accusing Giuliani of being anti-Semitic himself following his remarks last week that he was ‘more of a Jew’ than liberal philanthropist and Holocaust survivor, George Soros.
‘Last night while New Yorkers came together in solidarity with the Jewish community, Rudy was on Twitter trying to play the victim and make it about himself,’ de Blasio replied on Twitter. ‘Last week he questioned the Judaism of a Holocaust survivor. If you’re sensing a pattern, you’re not alone.’
An earlier tweet from the sitting New York City mayor also accused Giuliani of ‘exploiting a tragedy to sow division between New Yorkers and promote himself’, adding that ‘It’s what he’s best at.’
‘The guy who spent this week spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories over cocktails can take a seat today,’ De Blasio said.
Giuliani’s comments were made on Twitter just hours after an assailant, believed to be 37-year-old Grafton Thomas, stabbed five people with a machete inside a rabbi’s home as they celebrated the seventh night of Hanukkah in Monsley, New York, late Saturday
The suspected attacker stormed into the home of Rabbi Chaim Leibush Rottenberg at around 10pm and began wildly swinging a knife at some 60 worshippers gathered for a candle-lighting ceremony for the seventh night of Hanukkah
Trump condemned the stabbing attack in a tweet on Sunday, calling it ‘horrific’ and urging all Americans to ‘come together to fight, confront, and eradicate the evil scourge of anti-Semitism. Melania and I wish the victims a quick and full recovery.’
However, several Jewish groups denounced the president earlier this month for using anti-Semitic tropes of his own, in reference to comments he made about Jews in the real estate industry, calling them ‘brutal killers; not nice people at all.’
During the same speech at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida, Trump continued: ‘Some of you I don’t like at all, actually,’ before adding that Jewish voters will always support him regardless to protect their wealth
The five victims of Saturday night’s attack suffered serious injuries, including a severed finger, slash wounds and deep lacerations. One victim was also left in a critical condition with a skull fracture.
Witnesses said Thomas had a machete and stabbed five people before one of the attendees chased him out of the home by throwing a coat rack, coffee table and chair at him. There were about 60 people gathered for the celebration.
Trump condemned the stabbing attack in a tweet on Sunday, calling it ‘horrific’, however, several Jewish groups denounced the president earlier this month for using anti-Semitic tropes of his own, in reference to comments he made about Jews in the real estate industry, calling them ‘brutal killers; not nice people at all’
Thomas tried to enter the synagogue next door but it was already barricaded by people who had heard the commotion and taken shelter inside.
NYPD officers located him covered in blood 30 miles away in Harlem about two hours later and he was taken into custody at the 32nd precinct.
On Sunday, Thomas pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempted murder and one count of burglary. He was detained on $5 million bail and refused to answer questions as he was escorted to a vehicle.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the attack an act of domestic terrorism.
The attack was the latest in a string of violence targeting Jews in the region, including a December 10 massacre at a kosher grocery store in New Jersey. Last month in Monsey, a man was stabbed while walking to a synagogue.