US envoy dismisses Zohran Mamdani’s threat to arrest Netanyahu in New York as ‘pure political theatre’ | Today’s news
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz rejected New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s threat that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be arrested if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Waltz said the mayor has no legal authority to detain a visiting foreign leader protected by international agreements.
“Mayor Mamdani. Here’s why your threat to arrest Prime Minister Netanyahu in New York during the UN General Assembly will not come to pass,” Waltz said.
He argued that U.S. law and international agreements take precedence over any actions by city officials.
“The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which is the foundation of the International Criminal Court. The UN Headquarters Agreement grants diplomatic protection to visiting heads of government. Head of state immunity applies and federal authority overrides the wishes of the local mayor.”
The UN General Assembly is scheduled to meet in New York at the beginning of September.
The Israeli envoy says Mamdani should be arrested instead
Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon also condemned Mamdani’s statements and accused the mayor of neglecting his duties and focusing on Israel.
“If anyone should be arrested, it’s New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani,” Danon said.
He criticized Mamdani for focusing on Israel instead of issues in New York.
“Mamdani is failing New York City government. Instead of focusing on his duties as mayor and confronting the rising tide of anti-Semitism in his city, he chose to incite hostility and generate headlines by attacking the State of Israel.”
Danon insisted that Netanyahu attend the General Assembly as planned.
“Nothing will change. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu will come to New York, proudly address the United Nations General Assembly and stand before the world to declare the truth of Israel and its unwavering right to defend its citizens.”
Mamdani says the legal authority is being reviewed
Mamdani told The New York Times that his administration is still investigating whether New York City has the legal authority to detain Netanyahu should he travel to the city.
The mayor reiterated his belief that Netanyahu should face justice.
“I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague,” Mamdani said.
“He’s a war criminal who’s been indicted by the International Criminal Court. And you’ll find that’s a view held by many, purely because of what his actions have caused over the last many years.”
But Mamdani conceded that it remains unclear whether the mayor has the authority to order the NYPD to arrest a foreign head of government.
“I’m in active conversation” with the city’s legal department about the matter, he said.
He added that any action would be limited by existing law.
“Whatever New York law allows me to do, we’ll do it, but we’re not going to write our own laws to do it.”
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Campaign promise renewed
Mamdani’s comments echo a promise he made during last year’s mayoral campaign when he said he would order the NYPD to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader visited New York.
At the time, Mamdani said such an arrest would enforce an International Criminal Court warrant related to Netanyahu’s role in the Gaza war.
Netanyahu rejects threat of arrest
Netanyahu previously brushed off Mamdani’s remarks, saying he was not concerned about the possibility of arrest during a visit to New York.
The Israeli prime minister also accused Mamdani of supporting Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, sparking the ongoing war in Gaza.
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