Netanyahu condemns New York mayor at UN assembly, says Jews feel unsafe
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of antisemitism and distortion of facts during a UN General Assembly speech, prompting a rebuttal from the mayor.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to criticize New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, alleging that many Jews in the city no longer feel safe. Netanyahu said the mayor had "distorted the facts" and "inverted victim and aggressor," adding that the mayor’s statements were a "spitting in the face of truth."
Mamdani, who has long voiced support for Palestinian self-determination, responded after the speech, stating that Netanyahu was repeating "baseless lies" and reminding that the prime minister remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes.
The exchange marked Netanyahu’s first appearance in New York since Mamdani took office in January, and it came after the mayor had previously pledged to pursue an arrest warrant against the Israeli leader during a visit to the city. Mamdani also shared a video of planting an olive tree with Palestinian families from Gaza, concluding with a wish for peace.
Netanyahu denied accusations that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, asserting that Israel had "prevented genocide" and accusing the mayor of trying to silence him.