Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of stoking divisions and increasing hostility toward the Jewish community. The statement was made on Sunday, during an interview with American broadcaster Fox News.
Netanyahu says Mamdani “foments hatred” and Jews in the US “are afraid”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of stoking divisions and increasing hostility toward the Jewish community. The statement was made on Sunday, during an interview with...
The exchange of criticism comes after Mamdani called the Israeli prime minister a “war criminal” and mentioned the possibility of arresting him during the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled for September.
Netanyahu confirmed that he intends to attend the meeting, despite the mayor's statement that he would not be welcome in the city. According to the Israeli leader, Mamdani should represent all New Yorkers equally, regardless of religion.
"He should be the mayor of all New Yorkers, Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone. But he's trying to turn one group against the other," he said.
Mamdani has already recognized that the municipal administration does not have the competence to comply with an international order of this nature. According to him, any possible detention would depend on the United States federal government.
President Donald Trump, however, ruled out the hypothesis and stated that Netanyahu will not be arrested while on American territory.
During the interview, the prime minister also linked the mayor's statements to the increase in anti-Semitic episodes in the United States. As an example, he cited the attack that occurred on Thursday in New York, when a Jewish man and an Asian man were stabbed. Both victims survived, and the suspect was arrested and charged with hate crimes.
Netanyahu also stated that members of the city's Jewish community report insecurity and discomfort. New York is home to one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel.
"Jews are scared now. I think this is wrong. This is all wrong," he declared.
Before taking office, Mamdani had already promised to mobilize the municipal police to comply with arrest orders issued by the International Criminal Court against wanted authorities, including Netanyahu and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
When commenting on possible action during the General Assembly, the mayor stated that his team was analyzing what measures could be adopted within legal limits. “Everything that the law allows me to do in New York will be done,” he declared.
The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. The process is related to the Israeli offensive that began after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
“War criminal”: Mamdani urges US government to detain Netanyahu
Mayor of New York claims that the city does not have the legal competence to comply with the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, but demands action from the federal government if the Israeli prime minister enters the United States
Source: Noticias ao Minuto - Ultima Hora
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