Netanyahu Accuses NYC Mayor of Fomenting Hate

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has lashed out at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of ‘fomenting hate’ after Mamdani publicly considered having Netanyahu arrested over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Netanyahu made the comments on Fox News, stating that Mamdani is ‘supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers: Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone. But he’s trying to turn one group against the other, and he’s foisting hate and fear.’ Netanyahu also claimed that Jewish Americans in New York are ‘afraid right now.’ He drew a connection between Mamdani’s comments and a recent stabbing incident in the city, where a 50-year-old Jewish man, Moshe Grunhaus, was stabbed in the chest with a screwdriver after leaving a Jewish religious service.

The assailant, Raul Morales, 51, allegedly yelled ‘Allahu Akbar’ during the attack and also targeted an Asian man, 57-year-old Chok Sung, who was stabbed in the back with a knife. Morales was arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault as hate crimes. ‘I don’t think it’s accidental that after he made this hate speech against Israel and against me, the next day a Jew is stabbed coming out of a synagogue,’ Netanyahu said. A Mamdani spokesperson did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Independent.

The controversy began earlier this month when Mamdani told The New York Times that he was speaking with city lawyers about having Netanyahu arrested on an International Criminal Court warrant if he comes to New York for the UN General Assembly in September. The ICC charged Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, with committing war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza in 2024, following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. Mamdani has since released a video statement saying he doesn’t have the independent legal authority to enforce the warrant, but called Netanyahu a ‘war criminal’ and said he wasn’t welcome in New York City.

Netanyahu has denied being worried about visiting New York City and plans to attend the UN General Assembly, where he intends to ‘speak the truth, speak for Israel and for the Israeli-American alliance, from the podium of the United Nations.’ This comes after Netanyahu finished testifying at his long-running corruption trial in Israel last month. Netanyahu also baselessly accused Mamdani of having ‘celebrated’ the October 7 attacks, despite Mamdani condemning ‘the killing of civilians’ and saying his ‘support for Palestinian liberation should never be confused for a celebration of the loss of civilian life.’ In a statement released on the second anniversary of the attacks, Mamdani described Hamas as having ‘carried out a horrific war crime’ and committed ‘atrocities,’ while describing Israel’s response as a ‘genocidal war’ and accusing the U.S. government of being ‘complicit’ in it.