Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon lashed out at Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a press conference Thursday — calling for his arrest ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to New York City next week.
“[He made] this ridiculous claim that he can or he should arrest the Prime Minister,” Danon said, according to C-SPAN footage.
“If someone should be arrested, it’s Mayor Mamdani for inciting, for actually collaborating with the enemy of the United States,” he said without elaborating.
The 55-year-old ambassador accused Mamdani of sewing antisemitic chaos after he was asked by a reporter about Netanyahu’s plan to visit the Big Apple for a UN General Assembly meeting next Wednesday.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu will proudly address the General Assembly. He will do so despite threats, incitement and antisemitic rhetoric we have heard from the mayor of the city of New York,” he said, according to footage posted by Jewish Insider.
“The mayor is supposed to make sure we have a quiet week with less traffic and issues — but he’s doing the exact opposite. He’s inciting, calling for people to demonstrate against our prime minister but none of that will stop us,” Danon said.
Dannon’s remarks came after Mamdani said in July he’s seeking a legal loophole to arrest Netanyahu during his September visit for alleged war crimes.
The pro-Palestine socialist pol, who is staunchly critical of Israel, made prominent campaign pledges calling for Netanyahu’s arrest during his mayoral run in late 2025, and has doubled down repeatedly in recent months, including on social media.
“I hope that he realizes he has a responsibility, not to call for people to demonstrate but to take care of the city and to make sure that next week will be a quiet functioning week for the thousands of people that will come from all around the world to participate in the UN [Assembly],” Danon said Thursday.
During the press conference, Danon also spoke about the country’s ongoing war with Hamas and how Israel has faced security threats from Syria, along with Hezbollah and ISIS.
Danon himself has been critical of the prime minister, earning the description of being a “right-wing thorn in Netanyahu’s side,” according to the UK Guardian.
