Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani of fomenting hatred, arguing that the democratic socialist's anti-Israel rhetoric is dividing New Yorkers and making the city's Jewish community feel unsafe. In an interview on Sunday with Fox News' «Sunday Morning Futures,» Netanyahu said Mamdani is trying to turn one group against another instead of serving as mayor for all residents.
Netanyahu specifically linked Mamdani's statements to a stabbing incident that occurred last week outside a Manhattan synagogue. Authorities allege that 51-year-old Raul Morales stabbed a Jewish man in the chest with a screwdriver while shouting «Allahu Akbar.» Reports also indicate Morales yelled the same phrase during a separate attack on a 57-year-old Asian man. «They're afraid right now, and I don't think it's accidental that after he made this hate speech against Israel and against me, the next day, a Jew is stabbed coming out of a synagogue,» Netanyahu said.
Mamdani had earlier called Netanyahu a «war criminal» and «the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people» in a public address. While acknowledging that New York City officials lack the legal authority to arrest Netanyahu under the International Criminal Court's warrant, Mamdani urged federal authorities to take action. The mayor's remarks drew sharp criticism from Jewish leaders, who warned that such language was fueling an increasingly hostile environment for the city's Jewish population.
Despite Mamdani's insistence that the Israeli leader is not welcome in New York, Netanyahu confirmed he still intends to travel to the city for the United Nations General Assembly in September. «I'm not concerned,» Netanyahu said. He added that he plans to «speak the truth» from the podium and defend Israel's ties to the United States. The prime minister noted that he has appeared at the UN almost every year during his tenure, barring security conditions, and does not expect any disruption this time.
Jewish organizations had previously expressed concern about the growing climate of anti-Israel sentiment in New York. The stabbing, which police are investigating as a hate crime, has intensified those fears. Netanyahu described Mamdani's rhetoric as «shameful» and harmful to both New York and broader efforts toward peace. The mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Netanyahu's accusations.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions surrounding Israel's military operations in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which have spilled into American political discourse and public life. As the UN General Assembly approaches, the clash between Netanyahu and Mamdani highlights the charged atmosphere facing Jewish communities in major U.S. cities.