New York Mag Draws Ire for Erasing Jewish Identity In ‘Habibi City’ Feature on Mideast Communities

New York Magazine has drawn significant criticism over its latest "Habibi City" issue, which explores the cultural and political influence of the South Asian and North African communities in New York. The centerpiece of the issue, written by Zaina Arafat, focuses on the "SWANA-ssance" in the city, using an acronym for Southwest Asia and North Africa.

Arafat highlights the growth of a network of restaurants, cafés, literary events, parties, and political organizations within the SWANA community, which has gained visibility following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and subsequent Israeli military action.

The article emphasizes the shared beliefs of the SWANA community, including support for Palestinian human rights, condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza, and a commitment to social justice and welfare. The magazine presents SWANA as a "decolonial framework" for understanding the region and its diaspora. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also featured prominently, with the article suggesting his election as evidence of New York's cultural shift.

However, the article has faced backlash for its treatment of Israel, Zionism, and Jewish identity. Arafat groups Zionism with xenophobia and Islamophobia, which has been criticized. The story also mentions Jewish participation in the cultural scene, including Arab Jewish singer Laura Elkeslassy and events at Barzakh Café, a gathering place featured in the piece.

Additionally, the Grub Street story by Madeline Leung Coleman examines the intersection of politics surrounding Israel and Gaza with New York's Middle Eastern restaurant scene, including a passage describing Israel as "the land mass currently called Israel."

The backlash has come from various sources, including British historian Simon Sebag Montefiore, who described the article as a "screed of hate bigotry ignorance" and claimed it erases Jewish identity in favor of a political loyalty test.