Netanyahu Rebukes NYC Mayor Adams at UN Over War Crime Accusations

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu forcefully responded to New York City Mayor Eric Adams at the United Nations on Thursday, after Adams had threatened to seek Netanyahu's arrest and accused Israel of war crimes. Speaking from the UN podium, Netanyahu stated, "You tried to silence me, but you cannot silence the truth, Israel did not commit genocide, Israel prevented genocide." He added, "The days when Jews were defenseless victims are over."

Netanyahu's remarks were a direct reply to Adams, who had previously threatened to pursue the prime minister's arrest upon his arrival in New York. The Israeli leader retorted during his UN address, "Since you were elected mayor of New York City, many Jews have not felt safe in your city. Your wife was pleased with October 7th."

The confrontation escalated after Adams led a strong attack against Netanyahu's visit to New York, labeling him a "war criminal" and threatening action based on International Criminal Court warrants. Despite these threats, Adams later acknowledged he lacked the legal authority to arrest a foreign leader with diplomatic immunity.

Netanyahu addressed the attempts to thwart his visit, saying, "You tried to prevent me from coming here and to silence me, but you cannot silence me or the truth." He asserted that "Israel did not commit genocide, Israel prevented genocide." He further elaborated that Adams and his "friends in Hamas" would have committed mass murder if Israel had not acted, and that the lies spread by Adams and other antisemites have real consequences.

Netanyahu highlighted instances of antisemitic threats and attacks against Jews in major global cities like Los Angeles, London, Berlin, and Washington D.C. He concluded his speech with a message to Jews worldwide: "I have news for them: The days when Jews were defenseless victims, going like sheep to the slaughter, those days are over. Today we have a state, we have an army, we have a people ready and willing to defend themselves. Today I have one message to Jews all over the world: Hold your heads high, be proud!"