Israeli President Isaac Herzog accused New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani of spreading antisemitic hate speech and smearing Israel. In an exclusive interview with Fox News at his residence in Jerusalem, Herzog recalled that in a video shared on social media in July, Mamdani called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a 'war criminal' and 'the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people.'
Herzog said, 'Mamdani does not respect my people's right to self-determination... does not respect the Jewish people's right to have their own nation. And he essentially spreads blasphemy, hatred, antisemitic rhetoric. He must understand that he is putting his own citizens, their safety, welfare and lives at risk.' The Israeli president stressed that New York is a cherished city for them, saying, 'New York will exist long after Mamdani. I hope he does not cause irreversible damage.'
Called Iran a global threat
Herzog said the Iranian regime has posed a strategic threat not only to Israel and the Middle East but to global stability for decades. 'They take their own people's food and money and spend it on terror around the world. That is a known fact,' Herzog stated, adding that the ideology is dangerous because it leaves no room for other religions or moderate Islam.
Following the joint military operation launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on February 28, which the Trump administration called 'Operation Epic Fury' and Israel named 'Operation Roaring Lion', Trump declared a ceasefire on April 7. Herzog said that Tehran's missile program, activities in the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear ambitions, internal repression and support for regional terror proxies prove it poses a major threat to U.S. national security.
Praised Trump's Israel policies
Herzog noted that Trump's support for Israel is 'infinite,' pointing to his decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in 2018 and his subsequent recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He also expressed 'great respect' for the U.S. leader, saying that after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Trump 'put his foot down' and 'negotiated brilliantly' to bring home 255 hostages.
Herzog, describing the $1.15 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense policy bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives with the support of only six Democrats as a 'red light,' said it did not mean the end of the relationship between the two peoples or of bipartisan dialogue.
Made allegations about ICC Chief Prosecutor
Herzog also commented on the dismissal of International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan, who issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, over sexual harassment allegations. Alleging that Khan 'absolutely' advanced the arrest warrants to distract from the sexual assault claims against him, Herzog said, 'The case should be dropped and the ICC should not fall into the trap of hatred and lies that Khan put forward just to protect himself.'
In remarks made hours before Trump announced that Hamas accepted a roadmap including disarmament, Herzog praised the 'tremendous efforts' of the U.S. administration to advance the next stage of the ceasefire in Gaza. 'If this happens, it could be a major breakthrough. Trump's 20-point plan was endorsed by the UN Security Council, and the next stage is the disarmament of Hamas,' Herzog said, adding that Gazans deserve a better life and that Hamas can never again control Gaza and turn it into a launching pad for terror and hatred.
