Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of "fomenting hate" and divisive rhetoric that he claims is making the city's Jewish community feel unsafe. Netanyahu made these remarks on "Sunday Morning Futures," asserting that Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is failing in his duty to represent all New Yorkers.
Netanyahu linked Mamdani's statements to a recent stabbing outside a Manhattan synagogue, suggesting a correlation between the mayor's anti-Israel discourse and an increase in fear among Jewish Americans. "They're afraid right now, and I don't think it's accidental that after [Mamdani] made this hate speech against Israel and against me, the next day, a Jew is stabbed coming out of a synagogue," Netanyahu said. He was referring to an incident where authorities allege a man stabbed a Jewish man with a screwdriver while shouting.
The Israeli leader criticized Mamdani's remarks from the previous week, during which the mayor acknowledged that New York City officials lack the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Mamdani had referred to Netanyahu as a "war criminal" and the "architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people," urging federal officials to take action.
Netanyahu described Mamdani's actions as "shameful" and detrimental to both New York and the pursuit of peace. Despite Mamdani's urging that Netanyahu not visit the city, the Israeli Prime Minister affirmed his intention to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September. He stated his plans to "speak the truth" and defend Israel and its relationship with the United States from the UN podium. Netanyahu expressed no concern about Mamdani, noting his consistent attendance at the General Assembly throughout his tenure as prime minister, barring security concerns.
The New York City mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.