Israeli Prime Minister doubles down on New York travel plans as incoming mayor maintains commitment to ICC warrant enforcement
Defiant Statement at DealBook Summit
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Wednesday that he still plans to visit New York City despite Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s pledge to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. Speaking virtually at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit from Jerusalem, Netanyahu responded to questions about the incoming mayor’s threats with confidence: “Yes, I’ll come to New York.”
When asked whether he would seek dialogue with Mamdani, Netanyahu set a clear condition: “If he changes his mind and says that we have the right to exist, that’ll be a good opening for a conversation.” His response drew audible laughter from the audience at Jazz at Lincoln Center, where the forum was taking place. The exchange highlights the diplomatic and legal complexities surrounding the incoming mayor’s controversial campaign promises and Netanyahu’s status under international law.
The ICC Warrant and Legal Context
The Hague-based International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant in November 2024, stating it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel’s military operations in Gaza following the unprecedented October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks. Israel has strongly rejected these accusations. According to the International Criminal Court, member states are obligated to execute arrest warrants, though Israel, the United States, and Russia are among countries that have not joined the court.
Netanyahu’s legal challenges extend beyond the ICC warrant. He is also facing corruption charges in Israeli courts, having been indicted in 2020 in three separate cases involving allegations of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery. This week, Netanyahu requested a pardon from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, though he emphasized that Israeli law does not require admitting guilt when seeking clemency.
Federal vs. Municipal Authority
Despite Mamdani’s campaign pledges, legal experts widely agree that a mayor has no authority to arrest a foreign leader, particularly one visiting for United Nations business. Immigration and international relations fall under federal jurisdiction, and President Donald Trump’s administration has vigorously defended Israel, including imposing sanctions on ICC judges and prosecutors investigating the Gaza conflict.
Representative Jerry Nadler, a Democrat from New York who supported Mamdani’s candidacy, told The New York Times that the proposal is “simply unrealistic,” stating that “The City of New York has no jurisdiction to do such a thing.” Under agreements as the UN host country, the United States typically issues visas for official business, though exceptions occurthe Trump administration refused entry to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in September 2025. More information about UN headquarters agreements and diplomatic immunity is available from the United Nations.
Mamdani’s Position and Political Context
Mamdani, who will become New York’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor when he takes office January 1, 2026, has vowed to send the New York Police Department to enforce arrest warrants against leaders wanted by the ICC, including Netanyahu or Russian President Vladimir Putin. The mayor-elect has repeatedly stated he supports Israel’s right to exist but has declined to say Israel has the right to be a Jewish state, arguing that no country should have a hierarchy of citizenship based on religion or other factors.
As a Democratic Socialist and longtime supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement targeting Israel, Mamdani has made Israeli-Palestinian issues central to his political identity. He announced during his campaign that if elected, he would dismantle the New York City-Israel Economic Council created by Mayor Eric Adams to strengthen economic ties between the city and Israel. According to Pew Research Center data, New York is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, approximately 1.6 million people, making these positions particularly sensitive.
Community Reactions and Concerns
More than 650 rabbis signed a letter in late October condemning what they characterized as Mamdani’s antisemitic positions on Israel. After Mamdani’s election victory, major Jewish organizations including the UJA-Federation of New York, JCRC-NY, ADL New York/New Jersey, AJC New York, and the New York Board of Rabbis issued a joint statement acknowledging voters chose him based on various issues but expressing concern that “the Mayor-elect holds core beliefs fundamentally at odds with our community’s deepest convictions and most cherished values.”
The Anti-Defamation League has launched a “Mamdani Monitor” to track the incoming mayor’s statements and actions regarding antisemitism and Israel-related issues. Republican NYC Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, representing southern Brooklyn’s heavily Jewish 48th District, has invited Netanyahu to visit New York on January 1Mamdani’s first day in officein what she framed as a challenge to the new mayor’s campaign promises.
Mamdani’s Reassurances
Since winning election, Mamdani has attempted to reassure skeptical members of the Jewish community. On election night, he stated: “We will build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism.” He has emphasized taking antisemitism “incredibly seriously” and pledged to be mayor for all Jewish New Yorkers, though critics remain unconvinced given his previous statements and associations.
Netanyahu’s Broader Context
During the DealBook Summit interview, Netanyahu also addressed questions about his age and potential retirement. The 76-year-old Israeli leader, who is the country’s longest-serving prime minister, declined to specify when he might step down, stating: “I don’t measure it by time. I measure it by missions, by tasks.” Netanyahu has faced some health problems in recent years, though he dismissed concerns about his ability to continue serving.
Netanyahu claimed to enjoy broad public support in Israel, contrary to many polls suggesting his coalition struggles to retain a majority ahead of next year’s elections. His comments reflect the political pressures he faces both internationally and domestically as the Gaza conflict continues and his corruption trial proceeds through Israeli courts.
Trump Administration’s Position
In a previous encounter in July 2025, when reporters asked Netanyahu about Mamdani’s arrest threats during a dinner with President Trump, Netanyahu expressed no concern. Trump interjected: “I’ll get him out,” and called Mamdani a “communist” who has “said some real bad things about Jewish people.” Trump suggested that despite Mamdani winning the Democratic primary, he might face challenges in the general election or in governing effectively without federal cooperation.
Trump emphasized that federal funding flows through the White House, stating: “He needs the money through the White House… He’s going to behave… He better behave, otherwise he’s going to have big problems.” This underscores the federal government’s leverage over municipal policies, particularly regarding international relations and law enforcement matters involving foreign leaders. For context on U.S.-Israel relations and diplomatic protocols, see the U.S. Department of State’s official policy statements.
As Netanyahu continues to plan visits to New York for UN General Assembly meetings and other diplomatic purposes, the tension between his stated intentions and Mamdani’s campaign promises will test the practical limits of municipal authority over international affairs and diplomatic immunityissues that ultimately rest with federal authorities rather than City Hall.
