Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon harshly criticized New York Mayor Zahran Memdani's plan to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In a post on X on Saturday, Danon argued that Memdani is not focused on his duties and prefers to create a spectacle by attacking Israel rather than combating antisemitism in the city.
The Israeli diplomat said, "Instead of focusing on his mayoral duties and combating the rising wave of antisemitism in his city, Memdani prefers to create a spectacle by attacking Israel." Danon argued that the attempt to arrest Netanyahu would change nothing, adding, "Netanyahu will proudly deliver his speech at the UN General Assembly next September and proclaim Israel's truth to the world."
Memdani's Arrest Plan
New York Mayor Memdani recently revealed in an interview with The New York Times that the city's law department is actively examining whether Netanyahu could be arrested if he comes to the city. Memdani had said, "Netanyahu's place is in The Hague. He is a war criminal against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has initiated proceedings."
This statement turned Memdani's campaign promise from the 2025 mayoral election to have Netanyahu arrested into a legal process. However, implementing the plan faces serious legal obstacles. Since the US is not a party to the Rome Statute that established the ICC, the enforcement of the court's arrest warrant in New York remains uncertain.
ICC Arrest Warrant and the Destruction in Gaza
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu on November 21, 2024, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel rejects the court's jurisdiction and the charges. Netanyahu, despite Memdani's threat, has stated he will visit New York and accused the mayor of supporting Hamas.
According to the latest figures released by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Saturday, 73,269 people have been killed and 173,811 injured in Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 8, 2023. Ninety percent of civilian infrastructure has been rendered unusable.
Memdani's Election and Tenure
Memdani won the November 2025 election to become New York's first Muslim and first South Asian mayor. He took office in January 2026 and, despite criticism, reiterated that he rejects antisemitism and pledged to protect the city's Jewish community.
Danon also sharpened his rhetoric, saying, "If anyone needs to be stopped, it is New York Mayor Zahran Memdani."
Maria Nica / Editor
