Netanyahu said in a video interview with the DealBook Forum organized by the newspaper: “Yes, I will come to New York.” When asked if he would seek to talk with Mamdani, he replied: “If he changes his mind and says we have the right to exist, that would be a good start for a conversation.” It is noted that Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist who will be the first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York, refrained from saying that Israel has the right to be a Jewish state, emphasizing that no state should have a “citizenship hierarchy” based on religion or other factors.
Mamdani pledged from the International Criminal Court, including Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Hague-based International Criminal Court announced last year that it had reasonable grounds to believe that Netanyahu might be responsible for acts committed during the Israeli war in Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Israel rejected these accusations and is among the countries, along with the United States and Russia, that did not join the International Criminal Court.
Despite Zahran Mamdani’s statements, there is skepticism about the mayor’s ability to implement a similar move, especially since the U.S. federal government handles immigration issues. The Trump administration had defended Israel and imposed sanctions on judges and prosecutors at the international court. It is noted that New York is home to the largest number of Jews outside Israel, and it also hosts the United Nations, where Netanyahu regularly attends the annual General Assembly.
Under the agreement with the host country, the United States is supposed to issue visas to officials invited by the United Nations, despite the Trump administration’s refusal in September to grant a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
