Mayor Adams, whose term expires at the end of December, is heading to Israel later this week to meet with government officials and business leaders, visit religious sites and talk about anti-semitism, according to his office.
The visit comes as Adams has talked for weeks about securing new job once he leaves office Dec. 31. The trip also provides a split-screen between the mayor and his successor, Zohran Mamdani, who’s been highly critical of Israel.
“Countries are calling me and asking me to do what I did in New York City,” Adams told reporters last week. “There’s an amazing opportunity that’s waiting for me.” He leaves later this week and is scheduled to return Nov. 18.
Since he dropped his re-election bid in September, Adams has focused on a number of international pursuits. He traveled to Albania in October and to Washington, D.C. to meet with leaders from Uzbekistan, including President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Liz Garcia, a spokesperson for the mayor, said the city would be picking up the bill for the trip, but she didn’t specify the cost. It’s unclear if other City Hall officials will accompany the mayor on the trip or which Israeli officials the mayor plans to meet with.
The mayor has previously visited Israel several times, the most recent in August 2023. Adams also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September during the United Nations General Assembly meeting.
His Israel trip comes as a source close to the mayor said a U.S. ambassadorship remains one of several potential professional avenues Adams is looking at. Sources previously said advisers close to President Trump were at one point looking at potentially lining up an ambassadorship in Saudi Arabia for Adams.
Adams’ decision to exit the mayoral election came after Trump administration officials and local business leaders floated the idea of finding a role for him option of giving him in exchange for a commitment to suspend his reelection campaign to narrow the field against Mamdani, now the mayor elect.
Adams has a distinctly different approach to Israel from his successor. Mamdani has long advocated for Palestine and is supportive of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, or BDS, movement against Israel. While Mamdani was criticized for stances some view as fostering antisemticims, his campaign was, in part, helped by anger with Israel over its conduct during the conflict in Gaza.
Adams has faced scrutiny for his overseas relationships. His federal corruption indictment, which was dismissed by President Trump’s administration, alleged the mayor was given discounted flights and hotel stays as bribes from Turkish government officials in exchange for carrying out political favors.
