Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon delivered a sharp speech at the United Nations Tuesday afternoon, telling New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani that his threat to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has no legal basis. Danon said the US is not a member of the International Criminal Court, and contrasted Netanyahu with dictators like Gaddafi, Ahmadinejad and Arafat. 'The one who should be arrested is not our prime minister — but you, Mr. Mamdani,' Danon said, adding that Netanyahu will come to New York, address the General Assembly, and defend Israel's citizens.
Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon escalated his public confrontation with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, delivering a blistering speech at the United Nations podium in which he called for Mamdani's arrest and dismissed the mayor's threat to detain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Your threat has no legal basis. The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court," Danon said. He drew a stark contrast between Netanyahu and "dictators and terror supporters" such as Muammar Gaddafi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Yasser Arafat, who had previously addressed the General Assembly.
Danon's appearance at the UN follows Mamdani's statement earlier Tuesday that he would use his authority to promote Netanyahu's arrest during the upcoming UN General Assembly visit. As The Zioneer reported, Mamdani said he believes Netanyahu is a "war criminal" and should be in The Hague, though he acknowledged he would not pass new laws to enable the arrest.
The exchange is part of a broader dispute over the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Netanyahu, which the US has rejected. Danon has previously called the warrant "absurd" and urged the ICC to cancel it after the suspension of its prosecutor. Mamdani has not yet responded to Tuesday's speech.
- StrongWaltz rejects NYC mayor's threat to arrest Netanyahu at UN, citing US law and diplomatic immunity
- StrongIsraeli officials dismiss Mamdani's arrest threat against Netanyahu; Danon says he should be arrested
- DevelopingIsrael's UN envoy Danon: Mamdani failed in managing New York, Netanyahu will address UN General Assembly
- StrongNYC Mayor Mamdani: Netanyahu is a 'war criminal,' should be in The Hague — but no new laws
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