In an interview with the New York Times, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration is considering whether it has the legal authority to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits New York in September for the UN General Assembly. The statement follows Mamdani's earlier pledge to work for Netanyahu's arrest, which Israeli officials dismissed as lacking authority.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani told the New York Times on Saturday evening that his administration is weighing whether it has the legal authority to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visits New York in September for the UN General Assembly.
The statement follows Mamdani's earlier remarks on Saturday, in which he called Netanyahu a 'war criminal' and said he would work to bring about his arrest, as The Zioneer reported. Israeli officials, including Consul General Ofir Akunis and UN Ambassador Danny Danon, quickly dismissed the threat, saying Mamdani has no authority to order Netanyahu's arrest. Danon also confirmed that Netanyahu intends to address the UN General Assembly in September.
The new interview suggests Mamdani's office is actively exploring legal options, though it remains unclear whether a city mayor possesses any jurisdiction over a visiting head of state. No legal action has been filed, and the visit is still two months away.
4 developments
- 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
- DevelopingNetanyahu says NYC Mayor Mamdani secretly hates America
- StrongUS Ambassador to UN calls Mamdani arrest threat to Netanyahu 'pure political theater'
Source and signal
- Internal intake