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 prominent figure in the progressive and socialist wing of the Democratic Party, previously stated he would not recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. He had also previously committed to arresting Netanyahu if he visited New York, citing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. However, in the CNN interview, Adams acknowledged that New York City lacks the authority to enforce an ICC arrest warrant, stating, "New York does not have the authority to carry out an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court."

Despite this, 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's crystal clear that everyone should be held accountable."

Separately, 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 force, housing construction, and immigration. Trump expressed his support for Adams, telling reporters, "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.