Netanyahu Pushes Back Against NYC Mayor's Opposition
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has forcefully rejected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's attempt to declare him unwelcome in the city, vowing to travel to New York in September to address the United Nations General Assembly. In an interview on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo, Netanyahu accused the mayor of promoting divisions and antisemitism, and aligning with what he described as 'Hamas murderers.'
Netanyahu's Statement on Coming to New York
'My answer to Mamdani, I will come to New York to fight for the truth of the Jewish people,' Netanyahu declared. 'I intend to come and speak the truth, speak for Israel and for the Israeli-American alliance from the podium of the United Nations.' The prime minister's remarks came after Mamdani publicly called him a war criminal and stated that he was not welcome in New York City.
Accusations of Supporting Hamas
Netanyahu sharpened his criticism of Mamdani, linking the mayor's stance to the October 7 attack on Israel. 'What Mamdani is supporting, his wife, his family - he celebrated October 7th massacre, the worst massacre against Jews since the Holocaust,' Netanyahu said. 'He's basically supporting - he tries to say that he doesn't - but he's supporting the Hamas murderers who raped our women then beheaded them, burnt babies alive, slaughtered our men, took innocent people hostages, 251 men, women, children, babies. That's who he's supporting.'
Rejecting Genocide Allegations
Turning the genocide allegation back on Hamas, Netanyahu emphasized the contrast between Israeli military operations and the militants' declared intentions. 'And they're the ones who are responsible for genocide. They would have killed as their charter says and as they themselves proclaimed, they would have killed every single Jew in Israel and every Jew in the world,' he stated. 'So the genocide charge belongs to our enemies. What we're doing is trying to fight this genocidal terrorist organization that embeds itself among civilians, prevents us from moving the civilians out of harm's way... That's where the real criminals are.'
Criticism of Mamdani's Leadership
The Israeli prime minister criticized Mamdani's approach to governing New York, contrasting it with previous mayors who sought to unite the city. 'Mamdani is aligning himself with the criminals... but the worst thing is that he's tormenting his own citizens, his own voters,' Netanyahu said. 'I've been to New York so many times over the years, I've met all the New York mayors. They all saw themselves as mayors of all New Yorkers, not putting - pitting one part of the population against the other.'
Fomenting Hate and Fear
Netanyahu asserted that the mayor's rhetoric creates a dangerous environment for Jewish residents. 'He's 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 and he's foisting hate and fear,' Netanyahu warned. 'I speak to Jewish Americans in New York and they're afraid right now.'
Connection to Recent Stabbing Attack
Linking political rhetoric to local violence, Netanyahu highlighted a recent attack outside a New York synagogue. 'I don't think it's accidental that after he made this hate speech against Israel and against me, the next day a Jew is stabbed coming out of a synagogue... with a cry of 'Allahu Akbar,'' Netanyahu said. 'So, I think that it's shameful. This thing is very bad for New York. I think it's very bad for peace.'
According to CNN, a man identified as Raul Morales, 51, was charged with two counts of attempted murder in the second degree as a hate crime after two men were stabbed on Thursday afternoon in broad daylight on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Prosecutors alleged that Morales first approached a 57-year-old Asian man from behind and shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before plunging a knife into his back. Four blocks away, Morales then stabbed a Jewish man wearing a kippah who had just left a synagogue in the chest with a screwdriver.
Mayor Mamdani's Call for ICC Arrest Warrant
Netanyahu's remarks come after New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday called on the US federal government to execute the International Criminal Court's (ICC) arrest warrant against Netanyahu, reiterating that the Israeli leader is 'not welcome' in New York City. 'Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large. As I've said, I agree with the ICC that Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested and tried for his crimes, as I do for anyone else charged by the ICC,' he said.
Mamdani's latest remarks follow his earlier statement to The New York Times that his administration was engaged in an 'active conversation' with the New York City Law Department to determine the extent of the city's legal authority if Netanyahu visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Netanyahu's Determination to Speak
Netanyahu reiterated that no political pushback from City Hall will stop him from taking the world stage in New York later this fall to defend Israel and its alliance with the United States. The confrontation between the Israeli prime minister and the New York City mayor underscores the deep divisions over the Israel-Hamas conflict and the role of international institutions like the ICC.
