New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s recent admission that he does not have the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done nothing to ease ongoing tensions between him and the Jewish community. Jewish leaders told Fox News Digital they remain concerned about the mayor’s speech, which they believe is fueling division at a time of heightened concern about lawlessness.
Israel remains one of the defining areas of tension between Mamdani and the Jewish community in New York City since his campaign. When he ran for the position of mayor, Mamdani said he would want to arrest Netanyahu, even though many pointed out that he did not have the authority to do so, and he finally agreed on Tuesday.
This issue came up again this week after Mamdani released a video explaining that although City Hall does not have the authority to arrest Netanyahu, he believes that the prime minister should be held accountable under an International Criminal Court warrant.
A video of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitting that he does not have the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has done nothing to assuage the concerns of Jewish leaders. (NYC Mayor’s Office via YouTube/Handout via Reuters)
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In a video posted on social media, Mamdani called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and “the author of the horrific incident against the Palestinian people.”
“My administration has reviewed all avenues available under applicable law to determine whether New York City can issue an International Criminal Court arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu arrives here. It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant,” he said.
Still, he added that the Israeli leader “is not welcome in New York City.”
Jewish leaders who spoke to Fox News Digital said the mayor’s legal approval did little to address public concerns about Mamdani’s comments, which they believe fueled division.
Additionally, during a news conference on Wednesday, Mamdani was asked how he believes the people of New York should react to Netanyahu’s visit to the annual United Nations General Assembly in September.
“I think our city’s stones are a protest. It’s part of what makes our city so special, that New Yorkers are able to express their feelings, whether they support or oppose, regardless of the topic,” he said.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has admitted that he does not have the authority to place Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under arrest. (Camara Porter/AdMedia/Sipa USA; Ronen Zvulun/Pool/Reuters)
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The Vice President of the Orthodox Union and COO Rabbi Dr. Josh Joseph said the comments were particularly relevant to the recent protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
“We know that the protests over the last few years have been violent at times,” Joseph told Fox News Digital. “Therefore, you are willing to risk inciting more violence based on misinformation.”
Founder and Director of the Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) Rabbi Mark Wildes said the mayor’s comments reflect a broader hostility toward Israel than criticism of a government official.
“What saddens us in the Jewish community is that he says these things just to continue his message that the Jewish state, the state of Israel, has no right to exist,” Wildes told Fox News Digital.
Wildes said that Mamdani’s criticism, in his opinion, “has nothing to do with Netanyahu’s policies” and is instead “about the right of the Jewish people to defend themselves after being attacked, which is the only thing that is being done in Gaza and Lebanon.”
The MJE leader added that the mayor’s comments, particularly his sentiments that Netanyahu is “unacceptable,” risk alienating New Yorkers at a time when they feel vulnerable and disconnected from City Hall. He said the speech summed up how Jewish New Yorkers felt.
The Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has been critical of Hamas but has been criticized more prominently in his dealings with Israel. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“For the leader of New York to say, ‘You’re not welcome here,’ is offensive, obviously, but it’s consensual,” Wildes said. “Nothing he says is inconsistent with the way he ran, and the kind of agenda he has, he’s been supporting Hamas, he’s been supporting terrorism since day one, and he’s presenting his facts.”
Mamdani has been critical of Hamas – he criticized anti-Israel protesters who chanted in support of the terrorist group earlier this year – but he has been criticized more prominently for his treatment of Israel.
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Joseph similarly warned that Mamdani needed to “remember that his words count” as a New York City leader.
Despite their criticism of the mayor, both Wildes and Joseph remain confident in the strength of New York’s Jewish community. Wildes asserted that heightened political tensions will not hinder the Jewish community’s connection to Israel or New York City.
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“Am Yisrael Chai is not just a slogan. Am Yisrael Chai means that the Jewish people live. Israel prospers, and Israel continues to grow,” Wildes said.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
