Mayor Zoran Mamdani has faced backlash for suggesting he might attempt to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to the United Nations in September. Critics, including some city officials, believe he should prioritize local issues instead.
Inna Vernikov, a Brooklyn City Council member and Republican, expressed her frustration, saying, “Mamdani needs to tackle the homelessness crisis, the affordability issues, and the flooding hitting New York City’s streets, instead of meddling in international matters and trying to endear himself to terrorists.” She emphasized that he is the mayor, not a global diplomat.
Paul, another critic, sent a strong letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that Mamdani’s threats of “unlawful arrest orders” warrant consequences. He questioned the mayor’s actions and asked for clarity on the legal implications.
Mamdani, in an interview, referenced the International Court of Justice, asserting that Netanyahu should be tried there during his time in Manhattan for the U.N. General Assembly.
Another critic, Brooklyn State Assemblyman Kalman Jaeger, labeled Mamdani as “delusional” for his comments. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania joined the chorus of disapproval, calling the mayor a “clown” and doubting his capacity to follow through on any threats.
The former mayor, Eric Adams, also criticized Mamdani, remarking that making such threats against a democratically elected leader is not just bold, but rather reckless.
Shosh Bedrosian, a former New Yorker and former head of the Israeli prime minister’s office, asserted that Netanyahu should be treated with respect as a leader of a key American ally, rather than being vilified by Mamdani. He also pointed out the contradiction of Mamdani ignoring Iran’s presence in New York City, a nation recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism.
