Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he plans to visit New York City “soon,” despite threats from incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani to arrest him in connection with an International Criminal Court warrant, Netanyahu said during a New York Times DealBook forum interview.
Mamdani has said he would direct the New York Police Department to enforce ICC arrest warrants against leaders accused of war crimes, including Netanyahu, though U.S. officials and legal experts say such an arrest is highly unlikely. We reached out to Mamdani’s transition team for comment.
Why It Matters
The dispute highlights growing tensions between local political leaders and U.S. foreign policy over Israel’s war in Gaza, as well as confusion over the enforceability of international arrest warrants inside the United States.
It also underscores Washington’s strong opposition to the ICC’s actions against Israeli officials, including recent U.S. sanctions on ICC judges and prosecutors, according to Reuters.
What To Know
Netanyahu confirmed his intention to visit New York during a virtual appearance at the DealBook forum on Dec. 3, saying: “Yes, I’ll come to New York.” Asked whether he would meet Mamdani, Netanyahu added that such a conversation could happen “if he changes his mind and says that we have the right to exist.”
Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist set to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor, has said he would enforce International Criminal Court arrest warrants, including those issued in 2024 against Israeli leaders. The ICC said it had reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu was responsible for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, according to the court’s findings summarized here.
Legal experts and U.S. officials note that enforcement of ICC warrants falls under federal authority, not municipal governments, and that the United States does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction. The Trump administration has openly opposed the court’s actions and imposed sanctions on ICC officials, Reuters reported.
Explicit caveat: No U.S. court has approved enforcement of the ICC warrant against Netanyahu, and there is no legal mechanism compelling local law enforcement to act on it. The ICC warrant does not obligate non-member states such as the United States to carry out arrests.
What People Are Saying
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, said during the DealBook forum:
“Yes, I’ll come to New York.”
Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor-elect, has said he would direct police to enforce ICC warrants against leaders wanted by the court, including Netanyahu, according to prior public statements.
A Reuters analysis noted that the U.S. federal government has “strongly rejected the ICC’s authority over Israel” and has moved to punish the court itself, making any arrest of Netanyahu on U.S. soil “virtually impossible” under current law.
What Happens Next
Netanyahu has not announced specific dates for his visit. Mamdani will be sworn in as mayor in January, while the Biden administration’s successor government continues to maintain U.S. opposition to ICC jurisdiction.
Any visit by Netanyahu would likely proceed under federal diplomatic protections, with no anticipated enforcement action stemming from the ICC warrant.
