Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Tuesday that he will visit New York in September, defying remarks from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who had called for his arrest over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
"First of all, I'm going to New York," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, responding to Mamdani's declaration that the Israeli leader was "not welcome" in the city. Netanyahu added, "I'm definitely going there. I'm going to speak the truth in front of this, you know, hate-spewing elected official who's pitting one group of New Yorkers against the others."
Netanyahu accused Mamdani of inciting animosity among New Yorkers, stating, "I mean, what are we in the 1930s? What is this? You know, so much hate, so many lies, and you know the big lie is about the ICC … that's a corrupt, evil organization."
Mamdani, in a statement on July 21, acknowledged he did not have the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu. However, the mayor, described as pro-Palestinian and socialist, urged the Trump administration to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant and arrest Netanyahu, despite the U.S. government's non-recognition of the ICC's jurisdiction.
Netanyahu's planned visit coincides with the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. Earlier on Tuesday, the prime minister was in Washington for the funeral of the late Senator Lindsey Graham. Netanyahu praised Graham for his unwavering support of the U.S.-Israel alliance, stating that Graham believed "Israel's security and America's security were intertwined."
Prior to attending Graham's funeral, Netanyahu met with President Trump at the White House. He described the meeting as positive, stating it was "one of the best meetings that we've had." Netanyahu characterized the U.S.-Israel alliance as a "wall of granite" and noted a common commitment with the President to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.