US Ambassador to UN Denounces NYC Mayor’s Threat to Arrest Israeli PM Netanyahu

Michael Waltz, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, sharply condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's declaration that he intends to seek the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to New York in September. Waltz emphasized that such a threat will not be realized due to diplomatic immunity and the fact that the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which underpins the International Criminal Court (ICC). He stressed that federal authority supersedes any local mayoral wishes, calling Mamdani's threats "pure political theatrics."

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Waltz outlined key reasons why Netanyahu’s arrest would not occur: the US does not recognize the ICC’s jurisdiction, the UN Headquarters Agreement grants diplomatic protections to visiting heads of government, and Netanyahu enjoys head-of-state immunity. Mamdani, known for his anti-Israel stance, has stated he is actively consulting with the city’s legal department to explore legal avenues for ordering Netanyahu’s arrest, labeling Netanyahu a "war criminal" and asserting his place is in The Hague.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, also responded strongly, accusing Mamdani of failing to address antisemitism in New York and instead inciting against Israel. Danon added that if anyone should be arrested, it is Mamdani himself. Mamdani had previously pledged to act on the ICC’s 2024 arrest warrant for Netanyahu, despite the US not recognizing the court’s authority or enforcing its rulings.

This exchange highlights escalating tensions ahead of Netanyahu’s planned visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, with diplomatic immunity and US federal law standing as key barriers to any local attempts to detain the Israeli prime minister.