New York Mayor Calls Netanyahu 'War Criminal' Ahead of UN Visit

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has reiterated his strong criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him a "war criminal" and the "architect of a horrific genocide of the Palestinian people" in a recent interview with CNN. Adams' remarks come just before Netanyahu's scheduled arrival in New York for the United Nations General Assembly.

Adams, a progressive Democrat, acknowledged that New York City lacks the authority to enforce an arrest warrant that might be issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Netanyahu. Previously, Adams had pledged to arrest Netanyahu if he visited New York, citing a potential ICC warrant. However, he stated in the interview that "New York does not have the authority to execute an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court."

Despite this limitation, Adams emphasized that if the ICC determines someone should be arrested for violating laws, "who are we to say that someone should be above the law?" He added, "I think it is absolutely clear that everyone should be held accountable."

In separate news, Mayor Adams met with U.S. President Donald Trump at his official residence. The two leaders, despite ideological differences, continued to foster a warm relationship. Their discussion focused on the city's police department, housing construction, and immigration. Trump expressed his support for Adams, stating, "I want him to be a great mayor. He certainly has a lot of potential."

Adams described the meeting as direct, acknowledging significant disagreements, particularly on immigration, but expressed openness to cooperation with the President.