Netanyahu: Mamdani doesn't scare me - I will go to New York

Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed plans to travel to New York, disregarding statements by mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who has repeatedly promised to detain him if he enters the city. Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, has pledged to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

Speaking at the New York Times Dealbook Summit, Netanyahu addressed concerns about the potential confrontation, stating, Ill come to New York.

When asked if he would challenge Mamdanis threats, Netanyahu responded with a smile, Well, why dont you wait and see? Earlier this year, Netanyahu expressed little concern over similar warnings and indicated he would visit New York alongside former President Donald Trump.

Mamdani has asserted that NYPD officers would be dispatched to detain Netanyahu and even Russian President Vladimir Putin at the airport if they arrived in the city. Being a city of international law means looking to uphold international law, Mamdani stated. That includes honoring ICC warrants, whether they are for Benjamin Netanyahu or Vladimir Putin.

Legal analysts have questioned whether Mamdani could realistically carry out such an arrest. The United States does not recognize the ICC, and sanctions against the court were previously imposed by Trump, citing its alleged targeting of the U.S. and Israel. Experts warn that an attempt to detain Netanyahu could trigger a federal government conflict, which Mamdani might want to avoid following his friendly Oval Office meeting with Trump.

During a video appearance from Israel, Netanyahu expressed willingness to meet Mamdani if the mayor-elect acknowledged Israels right to exist, calling it a good opening for a conversation.

Cora True-Frost, law professor at Syracuse University, noted that while Mamdanis pledge carries political weight, it would be difficult to implement. She highlighted that foreign affairs are controlled by the federal government, which would likely assert head-of-state immunity for Netanyahu. She also explained that U.S. non-membership in the ICC does not fully prevent cooperation, but legal protections for visiting diplomats at the United Nations would limit Mamdanis ability to act on the threat.

Mamdani, set to become New Yorks first Muslim and South Asian mayor, has affirmed Israels right to exist but has not explicitly supported its status as a Jewish state, emphasizing that citizenship should not be determined by religion.

Author: Olivia Parker