U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz has stated that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's threat to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the upcoming UN General Assembly is "pure political theater" and will not materialize.
Waltz explained that such an action is impossible due to diplomatic protections granted under the UN Headquarters Agreement. "Head-of-state immunity applies, and federal authority trumps any local mayor’s wishes," Waltz said.
The UN General Assembly is scheduled to convene in early September. Mayor Mamdani's remarks, made on Saturday, have drawn criticism from Israeli officials and other figures.
Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations in New York, stated that Mayor Mamdani should focus on governing New York City and addressing rising antisemitism. "Instead of focusing on his responsibilities as mayor and confronting the rising wave of antisemitism in his city, he has chosen to incite hostility and generate headlines by attacking the State of Israel," Danon said.
Danon added that Netanyahu will visit New York to address the UN General Assembly and assert Israel's right to self-defense. "Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York, address the United Nations General Assembly with pride and stand before the world to state Israel’s truth and its unwavering right to defend its citizens."
Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY, echoed sentiments that a mayor's role is to govern the city, not conduct foreign policy. "New Yorkers elected a mayor to make our city safer, stronger and more affordable. Not to conduct foreign policy," Treyger stated. He suggested the mayor should instead focus on issues within the city's purview, such as raising pay for essential city workers like paraprofessionals, early childhood educators, and EMS workers.