Netanyahu's UN Speech Calling NYC Mayor 'Friend of Terrorists' Sparks Outrage

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly on Thursday, accusing New York City Mayor Eric Adams of being an antisemite and a "friend" of Hamas. This address marked the culmination of weeks of criticism from Israeli officials towards Adams. Netanyahu's remarks have ignited a firestorm, drawing condemnation not only from those critical of Israel but also from Jewish allies of the prime minister.

Jewish Democrats in New York have strongly defended Mayor Adams against Netanyahu's accusations. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who is Jewish, called the claim that Adams supports Hamas "slanderous." City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, also Jewish and a Democrat, stated that Netanyahu's comments were unhelpful and could incite violence, emphasizing the need to de-escalate tensions. Mayor Adams himself has publicly designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and condemned antisemitic crimes. In response to Netanyahu, Adams released a statement accusing the prime minister of repeating "baseless lies" to "whitewash his genocide of Palestinians" and referencing an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.

Some observers, like Mark Levine, characterized Netanyahu's UN speech as a "political maneuver" aimed at distracting from his domestic political struggles, particularly amid Israel's ongoing election campaign. The Likud party has reportedly used Adams as a campaign symbol, placing his image on billboards alongside figures like Ayatollah Khamenei and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul also rejected Netanyahu's characterization of Adams, calling the comparison to Hamas supporters "falsehoods" that undermine Netanyahu's own credibility. Conversely, Morton Klein, president of the Zionist Organization of America and a vocal critic of Adams, praised Netanyahu's speech as "Churchillian" and "greatest," asserting that the prime minister "correctly identified Mamdani as a dangerous antisemite."

The controversy also touches upon earlier remarks by Israel's Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, who compared Adams' support for boycotting Israel to Nazi Germany. The mayor's office deemed this comparison "offensive, completely inadequate, and detached from reality." Progressive Jewish politician Brad Lander condemned both Akunis and Netanyahu, accusing them of cynically using antisemitism charges for political gain and endangering lives. Amy Spitalnick, head of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, also criticized the Nazi comparisons, calling them deeply offensive and counterproductive to fostering necessary relationships for Jewish safety.