Netanyahu accuses NYC Mayor Mamdani of 'fomenting hate' after arrest threat
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for threatening to arrest him, accusing the mayor of fomenting hate. The dispute follows Mamdani's previous campaign pledge to enforce ICC arrest warrants, though he has since acknowledged he lacks the legal authority to do so.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the intersection of local US politics with international geopolitical tensions and the ongoing debate over the ICC's role in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images By Kayla Epstein Reporting from New York Published 17 minutes ago Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he planned to attend the UN General Assembly in New York City this autumn, despite the city's mayor, Zohran Mamdani, making threats to arrest him.
Mamdani walked back that threat last week, acknowledging he lacked the legal power to arrest Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, the world's top war-crimes court.
The Israeli leader told Fox News on Sunday that he was "not concerned" about Mamdani's previous pledge and accused the mayor of "fomenting hate".
"He's supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers, Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone, but he's trying to turn one group against the other," Netanyahu said.
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