New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently acknowledged he lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite a campaign promise to do so. Netanyahu is expected to address the United Nations in September. This situation highlights a significant shift within the Democratic Party regarding its long-standing support for Israel.
Mamdani's earlier pledge to arrest Netanyahu on US soil was questioned by legal experts. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024, citing charges including starvation, murder, and persecution. However, the United States does not recognize the ICC's jurisdiction, and executing its warrants would not fall to local law enforcement.
Mamdani's allies have argued that his pledge represented a principled denunciation, even if not legally enforceable. However, some observers suggest that critiquing Israel has become politically advantageous for Democrats.
This evolution represents a generational change within the party. While the progressive left has long criticized Israeli policies, more moderate and older Democrats have recently soured on the country's actions. According to Hamid Bendaas of the Institute for Middle East Understanding, younger and progressive Democrats widely viewed Israel's actions as genocidal following the October 7th events, though some segments of the party, including those consuming news from outlets like MSNBC or NPR, remained unconvinced.
For many Democratic voters, a perceived shift occurred during the Trump administration. The severe famine in Gaza last summer, attributed to conflict and Israeli restrictions on aid, alongside Netanyahu's close alliance with former President Trump, particularly concerning Iran, appears to have further influenced opinions. Support for Israel has increasingly become associated with Republican political identity.
Consequently, even Democrats considered to be on the right of Mamdani's political spectrum are now advocating for a re-evaluation of the US-Israel relationship.