Netanyahu Reaffirms Plan for UN Speech Despite New York Mayor’s Arrest Calls

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed he will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September, dismissing calls by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant.

In an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Netanyahu accused the mayor of fostering social discord across the city, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel. Netanyahu asserted that political leadership should unite residents rather than pit groups against one another, following Mamdani’s statements declaring the prime minister unwelcome in the city.

Mamdani, who campaigned on a promise to direct municipal police to enforce ICC arrest orders against Israeli officials, acknowledged recently that local authorities lack the legal mandate to execute international warrants. Instead, the mayor urged federal authorities to intervene, reiterating in a video address that Netanyahu should be treated as a fugitive from international justice.

Under international law and the United Nations Headquarters Agreement of 1947, the United States is obligated as the host country to facilitate access for delegates attending official UN proceedings. Furthermore, the U.S. is not a state party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, meaning the court’s arrest warrants hold no legal force under American federal law without explicit congressional or executive action.

Addressing the court’s authority, Netanyahu characterized the charges against him as groundless. He highlighted the recent removal of the ICC’s chief prosecutor amid internal sexual misconduct allegations, alleging the warrant was weaponized to obscure administrative turmoil within the Hague-based tribunal.

The diplomatic friction comes as Netanyahu prepares to visit Washington ahead of his autumn UN appearance. During his trip to the U.S. capital, he is scheduled to hold talks with President Donald Trump and attend memorial services for the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a staunch ally of Israel who passed away suddenly from an aortic tear.

Trump explicitly guaranteed Netanyahu protection during his stay, stating publicly that the prime minister would face no risk of detention anywhere in the country.

Beyond municipal disputes, Netanyahu expressed growing concern over shifting political dynamics in Washington, warning that traditional bipartisan backing for Israel faces pressure from progressive factions within the Democratic Party. He linked these political shifts to rising antisemitism across Western nations, noting that many Jewish residents in major cities report feeling increasingly unsafe.

The controversy reflects broader international tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which escalated following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in southern Israel. Subsequent military operations in the enclave have led to over 73,000 deaths, according to the local Health Ministry, alongside expanding regional engagements involving forces in Lebanon and Iran.