The Big Apple is in danger of falling under “radical Muslim occupation” like many cities in Europe, Israel’s new consul general warned in an exclusive interview with The Post.
“You know what happening in London these days, you know what’s happening in Paris these days and in Malmo, a major city in Sweden?” Ofir Akunis said. “They are under radical Muslim occupation.
“There are no-go zones and I don’t want to happen here in New York or in other places here in the United States,” Akunis warned. “They burned an American flag right here, in front of the doors of the [Manhattan] consulate.
“I’m calling on New Yorkers: wake up before it will be too late!”
In a poll taken shortly after Oct. 7, 57% of American Muslims said they believed Hamas’ attack on Israel was “justified.”
Akunis arrived in May as a wartime consul-general, replacing Asaf Zamir.
The former consul was married to the glamours billionaire Maya Wertheimer, granddaughter of industrialist Stef Wertheimer.
Zamir quit and then was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March 2023 — and the consulate had been without a full-time leader since.
Akunis took charge as major American universities were convulsed by pro-Hamas demonstrations and his schedule has been so packed since, he is still living out of his suitcase at a nearby hotel.
A massive image of the 9/11 terrorist attacks looms across his desk. Also nearby is a photo of his 20-year-old son serving in the Israeli Navy.
“Your September 11th is our October 7th. It’s radical Islam,” he warned.
Akunis said the antisemitism he has seen in New York City is the worst it’s ever been since Jews began arriving in the United States in large numbers in the late 19th century.
“My late grandmother — she was born in Poland 100 years ago — [told me] what happened in . . . Europe in the ’30s. I never imagined that we would see that with the young people here.”
The new consul praised Mayor Adams as a “brave leader,” and singled out Gov. Hochul, and Reps. Tom Suozzi and Ritchie Torres for their support.
He had less charitable words for the city’s Jewish elected officials — specifically Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Senate majority leader who called for regime change in Israel.
“The biggest problem in his speech was that he said that Israeli prime minister is an obstacle for peace. I think that was huge mistake,” Akunis said. “Even when I have disagreed with an Israeli prime minister I never said they were an obstacle for peace.”
Akunis said he agreed with the growing number of New York leaders who have called for the state to reimpose a ban on masked protests — which was lifted during the coronavirus pandemic.
“You need to update the law about the masks. If someone uses the masks just to hide and they use it to scream ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to United States,’ this is wrong,” Akunis said.
He refused to comment on the presidential race, but admitted he was “watching it closely.”
Relations between Israel and the United States have been tense for months as President Biden attempts to hold a coalition together that includes Hamas-supporting young people and Muslim Americans in swing states like Michigan.
“It’s not a secret that there is difference from time to time,” Akunis said. “I appreciate the American support for Israel.”
