Netanyahu vows to go to New York City despite ICC arrest warrant, Mamdani

Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to travel to New York City to speak at the United Nations, disregarding an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued against him in November 2024 for alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza. His statement came during a Fox News interview where he directly attacked New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has publicly stated that Netanyahu should face arrest if he enters the United States.

Netanyahu characterized Mamdani's criticism of Israeli policies and his advocacy for Palestinian rights as divisive and inflammatory, claiming the mayor was attempting to pit different communities against one another. Netanyahu asserted that Jewish Americans expressed fear regarding the political climate, though recent survey data contradicts this characterization. An Associated Press-NORC poll of over 1,000 Jewish adults found that 44 percent viewed Mamdani favorably while 39 percent held unfavorable views, with roughly one-third expressing no opinion.

The same survey revealed a stark contrast in how Jewish Americans regard Netanyahu himself. Approximately one-third held favorable views of the Israeli prime minister, while roughly 60 percent expressed unfavorable opinions, with 42 percent indicating very unfavorable assessments. The polling data suggests that American Jewish opinion has shifted considerably on Middle East policy, with 30 percent of respondents believing Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.

Broader trends in American public opinion have moved substantially away from support for Israel in recent years. Despite significant pro-Israel political influence across both major American political parties, advocates have struggled to counter shifting public sentiment regarding continued U.S. military aid and weapons transfers to Israel. Netanyahu's stated priority of pursuing military action against Iran also faces considerable public disapproval among American voters.